'Rogue' smartphones could be used to launch DDoS attacks, warns RIM exec

Scott Totzke, RIM's VP of BlackBerry security, is concerned compromised or "rogue" smartphones could be used in the future to target and bring down wireless carrier's cellular networks via distributed-denial-of-service attacks.
11/20/2009 6:00:00 AM By: Al Sacco

BlackBerry and smartphone security in general hasn't garnered much attention or concern over the past few years--at least from a consumer, or user, perspective; enterprises have been invested in mobile device security since the advent of the PDA.

But that's going to have to change, thanks largely to the vast number of consumers embracing new, flashy smartphones like Apple's iPhone, Motorola's DROID and Research In Motion's (RIM) BlackBerry Bold 9700.

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This plethora of new smartphone users means the potential for gain by hackers or other online baddies looking to crack smartphone security measures is drastically increasing; The more smartphone users, the more devices that could potentially be commandeered and used in various attacks. That means smartphone users are going to have to smarten up when it comes to mobile security awareness and be more vigilant in spotting and stopping potential problems before they happen.

Scott Totzke, RIM's VP of BlackBerry security, agrees, and he recently spoke with Reuters on the subject. Totzke told Reuters that he's concerned compromised or "rogue" smartphones could be used in the future to target and bring down wireless carrier's cellular networks via distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

Traditional DDoS attacks occur when hackers take control of large groups of computers and then order them to all access one website or service at the same time, overloading servers and eventually crashing or disabling the site.

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