Gartner estimates that viruses will begin to affect handheld users by the end of 2001 and cell phone users by mid-2002. Symantec created a division in December to create anti-virus programs for service providers. The programs, which may be released in six months, will allow wireless-related companies to prevent viruses from being sent to users. Three viruses were discovered this fall for the popular Palm operating system, which is installed on handhelds sold by Palm, Handspring and Sony. They were largely contained within the research community yet provide a glimpse of the future.
Phage fills the handheld's screen with a dark gray box.
Vapor, which was not technically a virus but a program that appears to be something it is not, makes icons disappear. LibertyCrack attempts to delete applications. Most viruses are passed through e-mail attachments. Very few of today's handhelds can handle attachments, so it is difficult to pass a virus. Technological advances will let PDAs perform more functions, including the opening of attachments.