Three Chinese companies created the ‘Sexy Space’ worms or Yxe Worm (Worm:SymbOS/Yxe.D) that will exploit Symbian operating system based phones.  This means if you use a Nokia, LG, or Samsung cell phone, you may be at risk for an infection.  

How Can This Occur?

You might receive a text from someone you know or don’t know.  Within the message there will be a link to a website which if you click on it, will send you to a website that will download the worm to your phone. 

What Will Happen? 

After the worm is downloaded to your phone, it will send similar text messages to all of your phonebook contacts – similar to what can happen when you download a virus on your computer.

These messages are sent in your name and from your phone. It means you will pay for each SMS sent by the worm. A typical cost for a single text message might be 5 cents. If you have 500 contacts in your phone, an infection would cost you 500 times 5 cents ($25)

Which Phones Are Vulnerable?

All Symbian Series 60 3rd edition phones by Nokia, LG and Samsung for example, best-selling phones like Nokia N95 or Nokia E71 are potential targets of the Yxe Worm.

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?

Until other security steps can be implemented, be very suspicious if someone sends you a text containing a link to a website.  I would verify that they have actually sent this to you before opening it.