Austrian Operator ONE offers exclusive antivirus mobile protection with F-Secure

May 31, 2006: Subscribers choosing exclusive antivirus service get first month for free

While the virus problem in the PC world is is already known, viruses are also becoming an increasing threat for Austrian mobile phone users. With new connection media coming available in recent years such as email, downloads and Bluetooth wireless technology, mobile phones have become increasingly vulnerable.  According to F-Secure, there are now more than 200 mobile viruses in circulation. The research organization IDC estimates that by 2008 the market for mobile security software will grow yearly 70% to a volume of around 1 billion USD. Mobile phones with open operating systems like Symbian and Windows, which represent half of the Austrian market for mobile models, are particularly at risk. Mobile viruses are able to propagate through MMS or Bluetooth using techniques that fool the recipient, often with the text and sender known to the receiver. The damage caused by mobile viruses so far extends from the loss of data to damaging the device hardware.

The most notorious viruses, for example, CommWarrior have never broken through into the ONE network. All MMS messages containing viruses which are sent through the ONE network or get into ONE’s network, are automatically blocked. This measure does not, however, replace the need for using antivirus software in the device because network scanning only filters the most common viruses. In co-operation with F-Secure, the leading provider of mobile securilty software,  ONE will start to offer its subscribers F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus for mobile devices exclusively in Austria.

ONE CEO Michael Fried said: "Experts predict that mobile viruses will develop at a very rapid pace just like PC viruses and within a short time they will pose a serious problem for our customers. We would like to offer our customers true added value with this extensive measure. Offering the F-Secure solution is truly effective protection that we as the only Austrian carrier are offering to our customers." "We are delighted that ONE has selected F-Secure to deliver its mobile antivirus service to its millions of customers," says Pekka Kuusela, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing Director at F-Secure. "We truly believe in the importance of acting now to institute protection for the growing mobile threat and ONE’s forward thinking and groundbreaking approach will undoubtedly benefit all its customers in Austria," he added.

ONE customers are able to download the software either from ONE’s mobile portal or by visiting the customer service section under www.one.at where customers can send F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus with an SMS message directly onto their mobile devices. After downloading the software, customers can easily install the solution onto their Smartphone/PDA. After the end of the first free trial-month customers receive a message on their device displays.  It allows customer to easily continue the trial as a subscription service. After accepting the payable antivirus service, customers will receive a monthly Premium-SMS message which costs 2€ per month and is added to the customers phone bill. Unsubscribing from the service is possible at any time with a one month period of notice.

ONE advises its customers to use Bluetooth only when needed and to deactivate the option "visible to other devices" if the feature is not needed. If a mobile device is being attacked with a Bluetooth virus the user should move away from the potential attacker.  Users should also avoid downloading software from untrusted sources and installing it onto their devices. Downloading a mobile antivirus software such as F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus is recommended in any case. For more information go to: www.one.at/handy-virenschutz

Anton von Troyer, Marketing Manager
Product marketing and channel development
Mobile: +358 (0)40 5808 670
Email: firstname.von.lastname@f-secure.com

For more information please contact:

Petra Jakob,
Tel: 01/27728-0,
E-Mail: petra.jakob@one.at
Or go to the website: www.one.at/presse/