3GSM - Destructive power of mobile viruses could rise fast, experts say

The dream of a connected world where PCs and mobile phones can communicate with the digital home and other devices is supposed to make life easier. But it could instead make life far more dangerous if malware developers have their way.

And it's not just the possibility of losing a credit card number. With microchips and software becoming more and more a part of life, such as in cars, homes and mobile phones, the threats multiply dramatically.

Simple programs available already could be a good start. Mobile phone services in some countries allow people to view what's going on inside their house during the day via a Web cam connected to motion sensors. The Web cam can snap a picture and send it to the user if anything seems awry.

But that same Web cam could be used by a hacker to see if anyone's home. If nobody's in, it may be a good time to break in. Or, a hacker could use the Web cam to take pictures of what's going on in the house, invading privacy. In a more ominous example, what if someone could hack into a user's mobile phone while they're driving and use it to shut down certain automobile systems, like the brakes?

Scenarios like these are becoming increasingly possible as more gadgets, such as mobile phones, become connected to the Internet, said Dhillon Kannabhiran, founder of the Hack in the Box Security Conference being held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, this week.