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 Currently, most download systems offer simple SMS-based ringing tones and logos. The more advanced next generation systems allow operators and service providers to distribute multiple types of digital content from screen saver polyphonic ringing tones and media clips to Java and Symbian applications. The popularity of such downloads is expected to increase quickly with the introduction of new Java marketplaces, where a large community of independent software vendors offers applications to mobile phone users through a single service provider.
When creating Java software, the independent software vendors face a version management challenge. Phone manufacturers have added their own extensions to the Java programming language which, for example, let Java programs use the phone functionality. When trying to create compelling applications, the software vendors have to use these extensions. This means that software has to be written and tested separately for each phone model.
In practice, thorough software testing may be impossible. This, in turn, may result in incompatibility issues that the download service provider must be able to handle in order to avoid offering customers Java programs that do not function properly.
A large majority of mobile phones still use a closed operating system. They are typically built with limited memory and processing capacity to keep the production costs low, and are usually capable of running only one third-party program at a time. This does not allow a security application, such as antivirus software, to run in the background. Therefore, the protection against harmful content must be in the network.
F-Secure Mobile Filter is a content security solution for wireless download systems. It offers operators and service providers a means for filtering content in order to block harmful software and incompatible Java applications in the network before downloading. The solution also includes an automated service for updating the filtering criteria. In addition, the service provider can flexibly define rules for blocking undesired content.
When an end-user requests content from the download platform, F-Secure Mobile Filter first checks the content for known viruses, Trojans and worms. In the case of Java applications, it performs a Java code analysis to check if any phone vendor specific extensions have been used. This information is then compared with the information of the end-users terminal. If no viruses are found and the extensions match the terminal, the content will be passed to the download platform, which forwards it to the end-user and completes the transaction.
F-Secure Mobile Filter is available through F-Secure and selected download platform vendors.
Author: Matias Impivaara, Manager, New Business Development
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