Warning! Warning! This is a virus alert!
A Finnish security software vendor has developed an alert system that notifies users of new types of virus and denial-of-service attacks by sending SMS messages to their mobiles.
Offerings, such as Grisoft's AVG Virus Alert Network and Dr Solomon's virus alert service, automatically send out emails to subscribers. However, the F-Secure Radar alert system allows users to receive alerts from a wider range of mobile devices, according to F-Secure.
Jason Holloway, UK manager at F-Secure, said the service operates at two levels. The lower-level warnings are issued to let users know of any new potential problems, while the higher-level alerts notify customers of more serious threats to security that require immediate action.
Users can visit F-Secure's Web site and choose which type of alerts they want to receive, and they can select which devices these alerts should be sent to.
The elected alerts could, for example, be sent via email, but users can also redirect these to a fax machine, mobile phone, pager or SMS-compatible phone, depending on the level of the alert.
Holloway argues that the service benefits companies by helping them to deal with security threats more swiftly. Historically, F-Secure has issued, on average, one alert each month that it judged was serious enough to warrant immediate attention. The company has issued one alert each week that it judged was less significant.
