Who should build the defenses?

We don’t need to panic, but we do need to be prepared. Theoretically, defenses built into the network layer are the most effective system of protection. Ideally, sophisticated network tools could detect anomalies in traffic and take action even before antivirus vendors can react to a new threat. We’ve learned that lesson in the evolution of improving desktop security. However, according to a Forrester survey, only 9% of the North American organizations surveyed actively track or manage PDAs in their organization. In addition, wireless providers disagree as to whether or not they should invest in antivirus protection at their cell network level.

It’s interesting to note that in Japan, which has approximately five times the devices in play per capita as in the U.S., McAfee's security software comes preloaded on some cell phones. Until network defenses are up to the task, it’s up to us to use antivirus software and take other steps to protect our devices and our data. Whether you are ready for antivirus software depends on your organizations' policies and protection-in-place, your usage patterns, and your willingness to take a few extra steps to improve security. (You should always check with your IT department before you install software on your own, however.)