Key to Mobile Banking Success in 2010. Security. Security. Security

Hackers To Hit Apple iPhone, Google Android Handsets Next Year
"Roel Schouwenberg of Kaspersky Lab Americas made a number of either intemperate or prescient comments to USA Today. It may take a year to find out if he is a fool or a profit.

Schouwenberg predicts that hackers will make major assaults on the Apple iPhone and handsets running the Google Android operating system beginning in 2010. 'The first malicious programs for these mobile platforms appeared in 2009, a sure sign that they have aroused the interest of cybercriminals,' he commented to the national newspaper. Google is scheduled to launch its own handset, the Nexus One, early next year."

Experts Break Mobile Phone Security
"The algorithm used to protect the security of communications on 80 percent of cell phones in the world can be relatively easily cracked to intercept calls, according to cryptographers at the 26th Chaos Communication Congress, a computer conference in Berlin. A German researcher presented an attack on the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)--showing it's possible to eavesdrop on cell phone calls and intercept SMS messages. Mobile phones worldwide use GSM, though in the United States many carriers, including Verizon and Sprint PCS, use a competing standard."

More threats on Internet in 2010 but smartphones added to criminal target list
"As usual, we can expect the Internet to be rife with potential cyber crimes and annoyances next year - more spam, more fake antivirus software and more computers hijacked by criminals.

But 2010 will also see more attacks moving to smartphones, now that the devices are being used more like mobile computers, predict security experts. What's expected to be targeted are 'apps' - software applications that let users do things like mobile banking and payments, as well as any other personal or work information on their smartphones. 'Attackers will probably be devoting more time to creating malware for those devices," said David Cowings of Symantec Security Response.'"