AdaptiveMobile, which provides mobile subscriber protection for enterprises and individuals, is recommending that mobile operators step-up security for their subscribers, as it witnesses a steady rise in virus attacks.
The company says that recent analysis of data from its mobile operator customers suggests that two virus variants – CommWarrior and Beselo – are causing particular damage. While CommWarrior only affects Nokia Series 60 phones, Beselo attacks all Smartphones, spreading via Bluetooth and MMS as a Symbian SIS installation file. AdaptiveMobile says the virus is growing at four times the rate of CommWarrior.   
One major operator, an AdaptiveMobile customer that prefers not to be named, has seen a rise in virus attacks from 0.5% of all messages to 6% over the last 12 months. On average, the company says, the operator receives 100,000 virus incidences a day, up from 70,000 in just one year.
Its a worrying trend thats not going to slow down yet, says AdaptiveMobile COO, Gareth Maclachlan. Fortunately, most subscribers are not infected, as viruses are still immature and of limited virulence; but those who do get infected can lose up to 100 (80) a day from the MMS being sent by the virus. As these are typically corporate users with the latest phones, and who do not scrutinise their bills, operators are concerned that their best customers will churn if a competitor offers a solution.
Maclachlan adds that protecting its users should be the first priority for any mobile phone provider.
As infection rates continue to rise and higher proportions of customers are left at risk, mobile phone security will become a key differentiator for customer creation and retention, particularly among large organisations keen to ensure their staff are properly protected, he says. The battle is heating up, and mobile operators have to make sure they are competing effectively.
AdaptiveMobiles Policy Control Framework is used by Tier 1 mobile operators globally, sits on the network and protects subscribers against viruses, malware, illegal and inappropriate content, unsolicited and unauthorised communications, preventing it reaching the network. It works across all mobile services (WAP, SMS, MMS and email); all forms of access (mobile, wi-fi and WiMax); and a variety of media, including mobile Internet, text, images, music, voice and video. AdaptiveMobile notes that mobile operators globally are using the Policy Control Framework to protect their networks and subscribers, respond to regulatory pressures, provide parental controls and extend corporate security policies through to mobile devices.