8700c Virus? - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community

Deftones277 · **8700c Virus? -** 02-22-2008, 11:13 PM

I have an 8700c and I am pretty sure it has some sort of virus. My e-mail pages have a stripped background. The hour glass flashes when using my browser. Does Anybody know of a virus scan program to possibly fix this?

NJBlackBerry · 02-22-2008, 11:16 PM

There are no BlackBerry viruses.
Since there are no BlackBerry viruses, there are no virus scan programs.
You do not have a virus.

Have you tried resetting your BB by popping the battery out and in?

daphne · **OS:** 4.5.0.77

Hi Deftones277,

There are no known viruses, malware or exploits for the Blackberry. The first thing I'd suggest is a battery pull. While the device is on, remove the battery for at least 30 seconds, then replace.

The other thing to check is how much memory you have left. Go to options, status, and tell us what it says for File Free.

Deftones277 · 02-22-2008, 11:31 PM

yes, I have removed the battery to "reset" the phone.
What should I do then? My browser is still slow. Nothing changed.

tsac · 02-22-2008, 11:32 PM

If the above suggestions don’t work you could try to reload the OS.
Remember to Do a backup first

John Clark · **OS:** 4.5.0.102

Striped messages are because of your settings in Options >Security Options >General Settings > Message Background Colors.

Hourglassing is caused by low memory, usually.

it's not a virus.

hudres · **Virus on BB -** 02-24-2008, 01:02 AM

There are in fact viruses and one excellent anti-virus program for the BB. The program is called VirusGuard by SMobille Systems. It is distributed by Handango among other sites. If you doubt that there are viruses, I suggest you check with them

There are also viruses for the Mac although most Mac user will tell you that there is no such thing. If that were the case, why does Symantec sell the same AV package as they do for the PC. The same situation exists for all Unix based machines (including Linux). This is verified by the approximately six different AV programs (and firewalls) available for the Unix environment. The Mac OS is a variant of Unix. So is the BB OS. Figure it out.

Any computer can be attacked by viruses. Virtually every firewall can be hacked by persons with sufficient expertise. If you doubt anything I have said, I recommend that you check with authoritative sources such as the companies who are involved, Google, or your local hacker. Do not be naive and go blissfully around thinking that the BB environment is a safe place.

For the record, John Clarke is correct about your problem. . . . 73

John Clark · **OS:** 4.5.0.102

There are no viruses for the BB at this time.

Snake Oil.

hudres · 02-24-2008, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Clark

There are no viruses for the BB at this time.

Snake Oil.

With all due respect, check with SMobile before you make an absolute statement. Access through the internet is a known vulnerability. 73

John Clark · **OS:** 4.5.0.102

SMobile sells the antivirus. Of course, they're going to say there's a virus. There are apps you can download and install to your device but it won't get installed without your knowing it.

hudres · 02-24-2008, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Clark

SMobile sells the antivirus. Of course, they're going to say there's a virus. There are apps you can download and install to your device but it won't get installed without your knowing it.

Do you agree that the BB OS is a Unix kernel derivative? 73

NJBlackBerry · 02-24-2008, 08:17 AM

Snake Oil.
FUD.

No BlackBerry viruses.

daphne · **OS:** 4.5.0.77

IF there were viruses (or malware) for the Blackberry, all the major anti-virus companies, (Symantec, Trend Micro, McAfee, etc.), would have anti-virus software for the Blackberry. Many of them have AV versions for other mobile platforms, but none of them have AVs for the Blackberry.

IF there were viruses for the Blackberry, it would make the news in tech and business circles, but there simply aren't viruses for the Blackberry at this time.

Sith_Apprentice · 02-24-2008, 03:25 PM

There are no ways to hack the device, there are no device viruses either. thanks for playing

daphne · **OS:** 4.5.0.77

Out of curiosity, I was just reading Smobile's info about their VirusGuard program for Blackberrys. This page talks about BBProxy and it looks like that's what their software is designed to protect against.

SMOBILE SYSTEMS

Is this a real threat or more of a proof of concept thing?

daphne · 03:38 PM

Found this info.

BBproxy - Symantec.com

Edit:
They call it a Security Assessment Tool.

Sith_Apprentice · 02-24-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daphne

Out of curiosity, I was just reading Smobile's info about their VirusGuard program for Blackberrys. This page talks about BBProxy and it looks like that's what their software is designed to protect against.

SMOBILE SYSTEMS

Is this a real threat or more of a proof of concept thing?

Quote:

Blackberries and PDAs are much more common now than they used to be two to four years ago. I know this is something you’ve paid a lot of attention to.

Someone has found a Blackberry-related vulnerability and created the exploit code that allows you to use a Blackberry communications channel — literally to serve though that channel into the enterprise network. It’s called 'BB proxy'. It’s more of an issue of architecture, than a Blackberry issue. The problem simply put, is that whenever someone installs a device that uses encryption, they tend to mistakenly believe that the encryption somehow makes them secure. When, in fact encryption only provides for the confidentiality of data whilst it is in transit. So, again, someone would install a Blackberry, or another device which uses encryption, and they would not secure the endpoints. By not securing the endpoints, you’re opening the door for someone to use your encrypted tunnel for someone to enter your network.

For example, if you’re using your laptop as a remote user with a VPN connection, that connection is encrypted. The problem is if the hacker gets a Trojan on your laptop, he can then use that to go through your VPN connection into your corporate network, unchallenged.

Now, you can’t detect the hacker in your network because he’s using an encrypted tunnel. A second example is the Blackberry, with the Trojan BB Proxy, if they’re able to get that on your Blackberry, they can use the connection for your blackberry to surf up the encrypted channel to the enterprise server. Where’s the enterprise server? Behind the firewall! He’s got a back door right into your internal network. Encryption is not security, it’s only confidentiality – you need to secure the endpoints.

from Infosecurity

Its a third party app that allows connection from a remote PC to a corporate network. isnt that what a blackberry is designed to do? and if you are on a BES and the IT department allows this application seems they could be vulnerable in many other ways.

daphne · **OS:** 4.5.0.77

Good info, thanks sith. So, back to the same conclusion -- there are no viruses for the Blackberry.

ezrunner · 02-24-2008, 03:49 PM

only viruses I know of are my friends trying to take and use my BB's because of their jealousy of my superior emailing devices.

I told them WM devices were a NO NO

hudres · 08:04 PM

Sith clearly understand IT at a professional level. The point that he makes about the BB being a connected appliance with access is but one of the points I was making. The fact that BBProxy is classed as a security assessment tool is a polite way of saying that if this tool can detect a problem, so can a potential hacker. The argument that just because Symantec does not make a product for the BB at this time is disingenuous. They make AV and fire wall programs for other flavors of Unix such as Mac. There are a number of Unix security products. The BB runs Java over a modified Unix kernel. Therefore it is vulnerable. The fact that no one has bothered to write viruses that attack the BB is fortuitous, not an indication of the resistance of the ability of it to withstand attack. This argument is like saying that because I have not been exposed to the flu, I am not going to get it.

I have nothing further to say on this subject as the only person who has a clue about what this about is Sith (as determined by expression of substantiated technical facts and not immaterial smears) and we are already in agreement. Sorry. 73