Researchers Display Rootkit Capability on Smartphones

Rutgers just posted a news release about malware research against smartphones. The Professor and student researchers discussed how their rootkits could “eavesdrop on a meeting, track its owner’s travels, or rapidly drain its battery to render the phone useless.” They were able to send “invisible” text messages to the infected phone, activating the rootkit, and alerting it to make a call and turn on the microphone.

Smartphone malware isn’t a new concept, but as advances in smartphones continue, malware proliferation will follow. A few months ago, there were reports of malware infecting jailbroken iPhones. I’m sure we’ll see similar reports in the future (on non-modified phones), and a greater emphasis on smartphone antivirus to follow.