Internet has been extended to mobile phone that is providing another new channel for the distribution of Internet service. Lightman said that ‘The ability of the mobile device to deliver personalized, location-sensitive content and applications to users when and where they want them will open up the door to services that were previously either impossible or impractical’.( 2002:76)
The mobile phone is a much more personal device than the PC. It invariably has one user; it travels with that user; it inhabits the car, home, and office. It provides the type of personal and flexible access to communication and Internet services that the PC did to computation and applications. Although, today’s 2G networks only have limited ability against security threats; alone with the introduction of 3G network and ‘All-IP’ vision (commonly referred to 4G systems), Internet accessing via mobile phone networks is expected to be an essential section of future wireless service.
Alone with the mobility and convenience, security issues appear to be a major concern of Internet accessing via mobile devices. In the GSM environment, WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) is widely used by mobile communication carriers to provide Internet accessing service. Data and information transmissions are protected very limited methods; mainly based on existing user authenticated method.
The next generation mobile communications system will be getting closer to so-called ‘mobile Internet’, due to greater bandwidth and enhanced protocol. 3G mobile communications system have greater data transmission ability than GSM network. On of the significant feature on Internet accessing within a 3G environment is that third generation mobile headsets are ‘always on’. Once the mobile phone is turn on; technically, the Internet connection will be on at the same time. Therefore, when users are ‘hand-off’ the mobile phone, the data transmission between the network and the headset is continuing. For that reason, personal information needs to be well protected from unauthorised access; particularly, the data is transmitted through the air. In addition, there is a trend towards WiFi technology on mobile devices; as well as the development of IPv6 protocol. When mobile phone goes ‘IP’, the security threats, such as virus, can be found on computers will affect mobile devices as soon as all devices share the same network.
Bruce Schneider (in Ojanperä, T. & Mononen, R., 2002: 230) stated that ‘Cryptography is a core technology of cyberspace’. Wireless communications system relies on cryptography even more than wired networks, therefore, to protect one’s mobile phone will be no less important than to protect one’s PC.
Chao, H. & Chu Yen., (2001) ‘Seamless Support for Mobile Internet Protocol Based Cellular Environments’, Wireless Personal Communications [Online], vol. 8, issue, 3, pp.133-153. Available: Kluwer Journals Online Wireless Personal Communications Database [Accessed 12 Oct. 2004]
Krenik, W. (2002) ‘Wireless User Perspectives in the United States’, Wireless Personal Communications [Online], vol. 22, issue, 2, pp.153-160. Available: Kluwer Journals Online Wireless Personal Communications Database [Accessed 26 Oct. 2004]
Lightman, A. (2002) Brave new unwired world: the digital big bang and the infinite internet. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0471441104
Ojanperä, T. & Mononen, R. (2002) ‘Security and Authentication in the Mobile World’, Wireless Personal Communications [Online], vol. 22, issue, 2, pp.229-235. Available: Kluwer Journals Online Wireless Personal Communications Database [Accessed 27 Oct. 2004]
Wei-Ming Chiu 11:13, 29 Oct 2004 (EST)
