When it comes to cell phones, the smarter they are, the harder they fall - for viruses. Almost one 
in four cell phones sold in the U.S. are now smartphones, according to FTN Midwest Securities - do-it-all wireless devices that can handle voice calls, e-mail, office documents, and more. But these increasingly capable devices are also increasingly vulnerable to mobile viruses. The same computer-like features that make smartphones appealing - an operating system that makes it easy to add new software programs, increased storage, and more powerful processors - also make them a target for hackers.
"Mobile viruses will probably get worse," says Shane Coursen, a senior technology consultant at antivirus software firm Kaspersky Lab. "In the history of computer viruses, as a platform becomes more accepted and more widely used, there are bad guys out there waiting to take advantage of it." Working Tech: Computer viruses target the phone your pocket - Aug. 10, 2006