First Palm Pilot virus is identified
WASHINGTON - Antivirus experts are warning consumers about the first intentionally destructive program for Palm Pilot handheld computers: It appears as an update to a Palm program, but instead deletes all programs on the device.
The author of the program says he didn't mean for it to go public and that he is helping antivirus companies detect it.
The program, a type known as a Trojan horse, has been dubbed "Palm.Liberty.A." Liberty is a popular Palm program that lets users download and play games made for the Nintendo GameBoy hand-held computer.
Liberty is distributed as a "shareware" program, meaning that users are expected to try the program out and, if they like it, pay for a full-featured version. But as with many shareware programs, hackers have developed "crack" downloads that allow software pirates to use the full version without payment.
Palm.Liberty.A is being distributed under the name "Crack 1.1" through Internet Relay Chat, a network of chatting channels. When run, it deletes all the programs on the user's Palm device, though it leaves the address book data, calendar and other databases intact.
Antivirus companies said they have not received any infection reports. But it is fairly easy to modify the program and re-release it in a more dangerous form, similar to the many versions of the "Love Bug" virus.