Viruses 'have hit most mobile operators'

Mobile operators are starting to feel the pinch from viruses resulting from the increasing use of emails and internet browsing on cellphones, according to an industry study published today.

Attacks on cellphones rose fivefold in 2006, with clients of 83 per cent of mobile operators around the world having been hit, the joint study by security software firm McAfee and research company Informa said.

"Mobile operators are already feeling the impact of mobile threats on customer satisfaction and network performance and are increasingly concerned about the potential impact on their brand and the success of new revenue-generating services," McAfee said in a statement.

The companies polled 200 operators globally for the study.