8/30/2006 9:33:01 AM

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Okay. I’d like to remind everyone that this is an editorial and the views expressed here are my personal opinions and not meant to offend anyone. Please keep that in mind.

From time to time, this topic comes up at the various Palm forums or I see the newest “update” for an anti-virus program at any one of the Palm download sites or stores and I keep asking myself “Why are these continuing to pop up when there is NO OBVIOUS need for them?” And of course, reality sets in. MONEY.

Software developers and marketers, and everyone else involved in “selling” a product or service know that “FEAR” is the best way to “sell” something. Ever notice how TV commercials try to evoke emotion in some way, whether it be happy, sad, fear, anger, etc? They are always there to manipulate your emotion, to persuade you to “act now”, buy this or “call now” to take advantage of this special “time limited offer”, etc. They don’t want you to sleep on it, or take a moment to think. Because, if you didn’t act on impulse (ie. now), you will likely question whether it’s really necessary and reality and common sense sets in. They want you to “act now”. Buy this. Pay them the money now before you come to your senses or start having doubts. That’s all they care about: Getting your Money.

Some Palm developers and even well-known companies know that and will do whatever it is to market something that will make them money. Forget about usefulness or conscience.

Let’s take a moment to recall when was the last time you’ve heard, read, or became aware of the “latest” Palm virus? Can’t come up with an answer? Here’s the answer: There is none. None as in the past number of years. The last known Palm virus that has emerged has occured back in… 2000! Please check out these archived articles on the Palm virus named Phage from internetnews.com, and The Register. Ever since then, there has not been any documented cases of Palm virus. Unlike Pocket PCs or Windows Mobile as they are known now, virus is pretty much non-existant on Palm devices.

Why? First of all, let’s try to figure out why virus exist in the first place.

What purpose does anyone get by spending time programming and creating a software that wreaks havoc on others? Maybe they think it’s funny. Just like people climb mountains, or hack computers, or set fires or whatever. It’s a challenge. But most of all, creating something that becomes so big and scary and strikes fear in people, not to mention get headlines in the news, may be what’s the main driving force in why virus writers come up with new versions of their virus.

Okay. Now that we’ve kind of got an idea that some people get their “kicks” by writing virus programs, what are the characteristics of most virus programs that we can list or find common in them?

To be successful, they have to make quick, rapid, but yet massive infection.

Next, in order to make such quick, rapid and massive infection, they need a platform or medium that will be able to do it. As most of us know, most virus target Windows computers, running Internet Explorer. Why? Because a big share of people use Windows and run Internet Explorer and since Windows and IE are well known for their insecure programs, it’s no wonder why virus writers target Windows and IE users. It’s not that there are no Mac virus out there or Linux virus, but the chance of making the same massive, rapid infection and havoc as you could with Windows is not nearly as great. In other words, the payload is not as satisfying. That’s why most virus target Windows and IE. Easy target.

Now, with that in mind, even nowadays with a bit more wireless connected Palm devices like the TX, Treos, LifeDrive, the chances of encountering a Palm virus is still quite low. Why? Because, most of these wireless connections are still not “always on”. In order to do the same scope of rapid, massive infection, you would require a lot of factors to happen. That means, that the Palm devices are always connected, and that the virus can spread quickly, before any disinfection or attempts to stop the proliferation of the virus can be done. Currently, there aren’t enough wireless connected Palms out there to be able to do such damage.

On the other hand, the possibility of a Blackberry virus or a Windows Mobile virus is a bit different as there is the possibility that these devices can be continuously connected.

Remember a few years ago when the bluetooth virus emerged and how a lot of bluetooth enabled cell phones got infected with the “skull” virus? That was quite effective and again, the virus writers took advantage of how massive and rapid a virus over bluetooth could be successful. The same with other mobile virus that can transmit and spread via SMS, MMS, or other communication protocol. Remember that the same characteristic applies: quick, massive infection over a popular communication network, and usually through unsecured or buggy software programs.

So, why not a Palm virus? Well, as we have already found out, it can be done, but virus writers are not interested. Palm devices run on the very simple Palm operating system. As most of us know, the Palm OS does not offer true multi-tasking. Normally with most Palm programs, when you exit out of a program, that’s it. The program is no longer running, unlike Windows Mobile programs where it will likely be running in the background until you “exit” out of it. So, with Palm programs, unless the virus writer has taken advantage of something similar to a background application hack where it will try to connect to the internet, it’s quite unlikely that it can work successfully. Even if the Palm device were infected via whatever means, it’s not necessarily that simple for this virus to spread. There’s a lot of factors and conditions for this virus to meet before it can spread effectively and quickly. If the Palm device isn’t connected, the virus is limited to this device and won’t spread rapidly. That means this virus isn’t going to be successful, and in the eyes of the virus writer, a failure or embarassment. Who wants to be known for a virus that doesn’t make headlines? Instead, they’ll just focus back on something that will work. Again, Windows and IE. Someone has already claimed being the first to write a Palm virus so there isn’t much of a challenge anymore.

The same or a similar argument can also be made for spyware programs for the Palm. If the Palm device hardly connects to the internet or at infrequent intervals, having spyware isn’t going to benefit the spyware writer or related associates. That’s also why you don’t see or hear much of spyware on Palm devices either.

So, hopefully, I’ve provided enough ideas for someone who is curious about whether to spend some money on an anti-virus program for the Palm when there is no known virus or other nasty programs targetting Palms out there. But, that all may change if and when Palm devices start becoming more “connected” and increases market share and the environment starts looking great for virus or nasty program writers to take advantage. But, for now, it looks like our Palm devices are quite safe.

I am disgusted to keep finding new “updates” for any kind of anti-virus program (especially from well-known anti-virus vendors) for the Palm when the threat is non-existant.

If you feel like spending the money for a piece of mind, then, go ahead, but I’d suggest doing a bit of research on Palm virus threats before making the decision. Not only are you out on a few bucks, installing it will also take up RAM on a useless program (in my view).

Decide for yourself. Thanks for reading.

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