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Chances are that if you run a PC, you’ve had a virus of some sort. Sometimes it’s no big deal. With a bevy of antivirus software out there, the problem can usually be cleaned up. However, most people have not experienced a virus on their mobile phone. That could be changing, though. According to a quarterly security report by Panda Security, we could be seeing them in the near future. If you have a normal consumer phone, you might be safe for the time being, though. Most malware (viruses, adware, spyware, etc.) targets smartphones.

“Mobile phone viruses have been a looming threat for years,” the report says. “In Q1 we must highlight the SymbOS/Beselo and WinCE/InfoJack.A, but more importantly the appearance of the first iPhone Trojan. The release of Apple’s SDK will probably cause the appearance of more sophisticated iPhone attacks and infections, or even ‘iMalware’.”

Just how much was targeted at Symbian (SymbOS)? How about 90.34 percent. This compared to just 4.14 percent on Windows Mobile, and 3.35 percent on Palm. However, as the report noted, the iPhone might be the next big target. As we see more and more iPhones sell — and with a 3G release in the near future, they will — more and more malware will be targeted at it.

However, where there are viruses, there is antivirus software. I’m sure it’s in the mobile operator’s best interest to work out some preemptive strike, preloading software on phones and offering regular, free updates. The last thing they need is a Trojan meandering through their network.

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