Corrupt media player on N90

[Shun]

My friend's gf got a message from an unknown source on her N90, and after opening it, the media player becomes unusable. She has already get someone to solve it for S$30, but my friend is curious about whether it is a virus and where she got it from? Any comment?

PS: she doesn't use Bluetooth.

[Jose_R.A.M]

Has she tried resetting the n90?

[Shun]

No, she is the kind of user who only knows how to make calls, takes photo and download ringtones/songs. I've advise her to take note of the name of the attachment and try resetting it if it happens again.

I'm not too familiar with virus on Symbian. I read that they spread through Bluetooth but she doesn't know anything about Bluetooth. Can they spread through SMS or the Internet? Also, is there such a virus that only corrupt the media player, or is it just a system problem?

[brad]

It would just be a system problem. Generally Symbian viruses are transmitted over Bluetooth, but they can also be downloaded - but either way it would involve her installing a SIS file, which from what I'm hearing would be unlikely. Symbian Viruses cannot be transfered over SMS.

[Shun]

Thanks. I guess you are right, everything I have read so far also suggest that Symbian can only catch a virus by installing a SIS, :)

FYI, accordingly to Symantec, there is a recent virus on S60 that will display the following the message:-

"You infected by T-Virus Someone Has Infected you With The T-VIRUS transmitted by SMS or MMS you want Disinfect your phone please press OK and Restart your phone after installation complete to Disinfect" - http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/symbos.fontal.e.html

But the page doesn't tell how it is actually spread, through the message suggest that it can do with SMS...

Very little information on McAfee site - http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_134428.htm.

Therefore, I'm a little unsure about Symbian virus spreading over SMS...

[brad]

Thanks. I guess you are right, everything I have read so far also suggest that Symbian can only catch a virus by installing a SIS, :)

FYI, accordingly to Symantec, there is a recent virus on S60 that will display the following the message:-

"You infected by T-Virus Someone Has Infected you With The T-VIRUS transmitted by SMS or MMS you want Disinfect your phone please press OK and Restart your phone after installation complete to Disinfect" - http://securityresponse.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/symbos.fontal.e.html

But the page doesn't tell how it is actually spread, through the message suggest that it can do with SMS...

Very little information on McAfee site - http://vil.nai.com/vil/content/v_134428.htm.

Therefore, I'm a little unsure about Symbian virus spreading over SMS...
That is a message that gets displayed when you receive the virus via Bluetooth during the software installation. Pressing OK just continues with the installation. It is just trying to trick the person into installing the application. There are NO Symbian viruses that can auto-install... Yet...

[Shun]

I understand that it is a trick, but it say "T-VIRUS transmitted by SMS or MMS"...

I've read about Symbian virus that transmit through MMS, but never heard of using SMS. Seeing the statement makes me thought that I may be outdated, good to know that nobody have heard of it too, :D

[brad]

I understand that it is a trick, but it say "T-VIRUS transmitted by SMS or MMS"...

I've read about Symbian virus that transmit through MMS, but never heard of using SMS. Seeing the statement makes me thought that I may be outdated, good to know that nobody have heard of it too, :D
The virus is just saying that it has been infected by SMS or MMS so you don't think that the application that you received over Bluetooth is the culprit, it is just misdirection, ignore it.

[Shun]

Thanks for the advises, I guess she is just too unlucky this time, :)