A growing number of malware writers are targeting iPhones, BlackBerrys and other smartphones with viruses, trojans and worms to spy on financial data and steal identities.

Mobile device malware can intercept email, SMS and MMS messaging, track the position of devices, remotely and silently turn on the phone to hear conversations. Malware can even be used maliciously as a conduit to exploit the corporate LAN.

"Antivirus and other security software is necessary for smartphones, iPhones and BlackBerries because all of these devices have been successfully hacked in the past," said Daniel Hoffman, chief technology officer of SMobile Systems, Columbus, OH.

"There is an incorrect perception that these devices are somehow immune to exploitation, because there hasn't been a highly publicized global security event regarding them," he said. "This isn't because these devices aren't being targeted, rather, the industry isn't yet in a position to accurately and efficiently track mobile device infections."

Companies such as the U.S. Army, AT&T and British Telecom have used SMobile Systems' suite of mobile security services to protect the Web-enabled handsets of their soldiers, employees and customers, respectively.

Recently, smartphone viruses have become financially motivated and as a result, stealthier.

"Given the widespread use of mobile devices for banking, online purchases and enterprise tasks, anyone who simply thinks hackers aren't targeting these devices and that these devices are somehow immune is greatly underestimating the intellect and capabilities of the hacking community," Mr. Hoffman said.

However, not everyone agrees about the level of danger.

CA Inc.'s latest Internet Security Outlook Report warns that online gamers, social networks and high-profile events such as the U.S. presidential election and the Beijing Olympics may be top potential targets for online attacks this year, but found that mobile devices will most likely still be safe in 2008 (see story).

SMobile Systems' products include Antivirus, Firewall, Anti-Spam, Device Encryption and Parental and Enterprise Controls.

These are compatible with a wide range of mobile device operating systems, including Research In Motion's BlackBerry, Microsoft's Windows Mobile, Apple's iPhone, Google's Android and Symbian, which was recently acquired by Nokia (see story).

"SMobile Systems provides the most comprehensive, mature and highest-performing suite of security services for mobile devices available in the market today," Mr. Hoffman said. "The costs for our security products are completely in-line with what you would find in the personal computing world."

Today, SMobile security software is protecting consumer wireless devices and handsets on the ground, United States forces in Afghanistan and, enterprise and government smartphones.

SMobile is currently working with handset manufacturers and wireless carriers worldwide, including British Telecom, Vodafone and AT&T.

"We're finding that more and more consumers, enterprises and governments are looking to the carrier and manufacturer for security, so these entities are actually proactively contacting SMobile for security solutions," Mr. Hoffman said.

"We're also seeing significant interest in the mobile banking community, where financial institutions are contacting us to protect the banking of their customers by including our security software as part of the mobile banking registration process," he said.

SMobile's competitors include Symantec, McAfee and other brands known for their computer antivirus software. However, SMobile claims to be the only company in the market today that offers the full breadth of security services across the various platforms.

"Our mobile security services product has been independently tested and rated as performing the best and our entire focus is on mobile devices," Mr. Hoffman said.

"There is a significant difference between designing security products for mobile devices from the start and dabbling in handsets by trying to change PC security applications to somehow function on smartphones."