S60 Open to new features

I'm not exactly what you'd call an expert on mobile security, but if you're kinda shy of downloading apps because you're worried about viruses, don't be.

Mobile viruses seem to get a lot of press these days, and while they are on the rise, there's still not much of a call for panic. The security features on S60 are already robust, but there are a few things you can do to be sure. The good (or maybe less bad) thing about mobile malware is that you can't install anything on your phone without hitting an "Ok" button, so if you never open or install anything you're not 100% sure about, you're basically safe.

What's suspicious, then? Most viruses are spread through Bluetooth, and usually the person with the infected phone has no idea they're spreading a virus. The best defense is to keep Bluetooth turned off, but if you want to keep it on, set your device to "hidden" in the Bluetooth settings, so infected devices can't find your phone. More tips at Symbian Central's How not to catch a mobile virus. There has been a mobile virus that speads through MMS, too, and of course if you're installing a cracked application from a peer-to-peer filesharing network, you're also at risk.

So what happens if you're sitting in the pub and get a Bluetooth connection request? Just refuse it, simple as that. In any case, as they told you in grade three, never open files from strangers (especially if they (the files, not the strangers) end in .sis, which means it's a mobile installer file). If you think you have got a virus, there's a good guide to cleaning up your phone here.

And for a bit of extra safety punch, you can install a mobile virus protection application, such as Trend Micro Mobile Security or F-Secure Mobile Anti-Virus.

Personally, I've never used a security-boosting software on my phone, but I definitely have been hit by unsolicited Bluetooth requests a number of times. Staying clean is easy: just say no.