UAE Blackberry users beware, there may be a virus lurking on your cell phone

According to reports (here, here, and here) BlackBerry users on the Etisalat Cell Phone Network received a new update to there phones recently which appears to redirect emails and text messages to an Etisalat server without the users consent or knowledge.

While the provider told there customers that the patch would provide a performance improvement, users reported that the patch actually reduced the performance of there phones, as well as reduced the battery life.  A few of the users began digging into the Java App which was pushed to the phones and discovered that the Java App was designed to redirect there text messages and emails to the Etisalat server.

This just points out that people need to be aware of what software is installed on there devices no matter how large or small the device, and that companies should notify there customers of what is being installed when ever possible.

In the case when software needs to be pushed for the purposes of law enforcement, which it appears this install was done for, it should be done to the minimal number of devices possible, not pushed to all devices then activated as needed.

Denny