Nokia/Symantec tie-in targets mobile viruses

Nokia and Symantec have announced an agreement to provide the handset giant's Series 60-based smartphones with Symantec's Mobile Security software.

The firms said that the move will boost protection against mobile malware threats and help protect personal information such as contact databases stored on smartphones and the networks to which users connect.

"This is another step in our aim to bring the most advanced security features into Series 60-based devices," said Matti Vänskä, director of Nokia Technology Platforms.

Robert Schifreen, a security consultant and former hacker, said: "This is a good idea. We have not seen any high profile cases of viruses on mobiles but it can occur and smartphones are increasingly being used to transport confidential and important information.

"The difference between PCs and smartphones is blurring all the time so security is going to become increasingly important."

Symantec, which has been working with Nokia for more than two years, claimed that the agreement will enable other Series 60 licensees to evaluate and test Symantec's mobile security solutions for their smartphones.

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