Cell phone hacking, viruses on the rise

Smartphone users are at risk of banking Trojans, spyware and infected apps and don't even realize it, say security experts who call 2012 the "Year of the Smartphone Hacker."

Over 45 per cent of Canadians own a Smartphone but most do nothing to protect them from cyber thieves. That naivety puts phone users at risk, says Fortinet security expert Derek Manky.

Manky said just like home or office personal computers, Smartphones are vulnerable to all kinds of attacks.

"We saw an explosion of malware on the PC in the early 2000's. We're already starting to see that happen on Android -- and I predict this is just the tip of the iceberg," he said.

In 2010, Fortinet identified 47 types of malicious software, or malware for Android devices.

Last year, that number jumped to nearly 4,000 -- an 8,500 per cent increase in just one year. Most attacks involve infected apps.

"They take an existing application, Angry Birds, something like a wallpaper application. They repackage it and it's very easy to do, so they'll take the malicious code -- they repackage it -- basically piggyback it onto the application and inject it back into the marketplace," Manky said.

The malware can do things like approve expensive premium text messages, steal your bank codes, contact lists and more.

Some malware can even intercept or steal SMS messages and send them to whoever is spying on them.

"Turning on functions like video camera recording, audio feeds -- storing it on the device and then uploading it -- sending it off to an attacker," Manky said.

When it comes to buying apps, do your homework first, says the Better Business Bureau.

"Check that it's a legitimate vendor and look for reviews on that particular app to see if it's real," said BBB President Lynda Pasacreta.

Because Apple is more proprietary, and iPhone users can only get their apps from iTunes, only 17 types of malware have been detected on the iPhone system since 2010.

But hackers are looking for new entry points, so make sure your Smartphone is password protected and always update your operating software.

Manky said those updates often close the security holes that hackers try to enter the system with.

Almost half of Smartphone users – 46 per cent -- believe they are more prone to getting a virus or being attacked by a hacker using a laptop or desktop than a Smartphone, according to new polling by Angus Reid Public Opinion.

The proportion is highest among those aged 18-to-34, with 52 per cent.

Security experts say one of the easiest ways to protect yourself is having your phone password protected.

But make sure it's tough to crack: It's estimated ten per cent of iPhone owners use the numbers 0000 or 1234 as passwords, which makes it easy for hackers to figure out.

The survey was conducted on a sample of 803 British Columbian adults. Margin of error is +/- 3.5%.