What about virus protection for Nintendo 3DS?

[pickinduck]

I can surf the Internet on my Nintendo 3DS XL and my mother's aid has a tablet that she surfs the Internet on and as far as I know neither has virus protection. How can this be?

[pickinduck]

People are on the Internet now with there cell phones and they don't have virus protection either do they?

[Tomspy77]

The tablet might have a anti virus app or at least can get one from the app store if it is Android based.

I'm not really sure how well the DS could be tampered with...from this Nintendo link on the Wii browser it seems like as it connects via Wi-Fi, the security of the Wi-Fi source would be the issue, not the DS itself. Plus the browsers used do not allow certain kinds of procedures as noted below:
www.ehow.com/about_6548426_wii-protected-viruses-internet_.html

The Nintendo Wii has a operating system all its own with a system that lets the user add different plug-in applications called "channels." Channels can only be downloaded and installed via the "Wii Shop" Channel, which is operated and run solely by Nintendo. With this sort of system, Nintendo keeps users safe by keeping track of all that can be downloaded to the system.

Browser Security

One of the downloadable channels is the "Internet Browser" application created by Opera, the same well-known browser application producer for personal computers. The Opera browser for the Wii allows users to browse the Web, but does not allow any files to be downloaded directly to the system. This security means that a malicious website would not be able to download content automatically to your Wii without your knowledge. The Wii system does not allow any uploading or downloading of files unless mandated by Nintendo's approval. Symantec, the company that created Norton Anti-Virus, made note in a 2007 report that although the Wii is a fairly safe system, it is still vulnerable to phishing attacks, as the opera browser for Wii does not support any anti-phishing software within its system.

Proprietary Software

Another reason that getting a virus on a Nintendo Wii is unlikely is the fact that the Wii runs on its own specific software. Most viruses or other malicious software is created specifically for a certain operating system. Since more people in the world use Microsoft Windows, most viruses are created targeting those users, due to Windows' popularity. A virus created for Windows computers would not work on the Wii system software. Creating a virus specifically for the Wii is not only time-consuming, but also has little incentive due to how few people the virus would affect.

Vulnerabilities

Despite the fact that the Wii has quite a few ways to protect itself against malicious attacks, it still has some ways to be exploited. As the report by Symantec in 2007 said: "Symantec has recently been using the Nintendo Wii to demonstrate that the vulnerabilities that exist on one platform are very likely to exist to some extent on other platforms such as games consoles. Our Security Response Operations Team identified that there was a vulnerability within the Adobe Flash Player on the Windows platform. Then they demonstrated that it worked on the Macintosh, and then finally they attempted it with the Wii as well and we found that the Wii was just as susceptible to the same vulnerability." This report shows that while the Wii has implemented security on its own system it must take measures against third-party threats and Adobe Flash Player vulnerabilities in the future.

Hacking Tests

In 2009 a group of hackers took on the challenge of hacking into a Wii's system software and made a few discoveries. The first was an undocumented processor chip which was so secretive that even some Wii developers did not know its role in Wii security, a serious plus in keeping hackers out. To keep piracy at bay Nintendo has also released patches to their existing system of purchasing games legally running smoothly as well. Finally it was found that DVD playback was disabled on the Wii system but available to activate, although they brought up the issue with Nintendo, the Wii has yet to see DVD playback enabled. The hacking tests proved that Nintendo has not only thought of system security but made it a priority to keep users safe as well as their software, as it should be.


Read more: www.ehow.com/about_6548426_wii-protected-viruses-internet_.html#ixzz2mu1YauZI

[sherlew99]

There is virus protection out there for cell phones, the owner has to install the app.

[Tomspy77]

Dec 8, 2013 10:42:37 GMT -6 pickinduck said:

People are on the Internet now with there cell phones and they don't have virus protection either do they?

I have an Android based phone and I have anti-virus PD...

[Tomspy77]

Dec 8, 2013 10:47:20 GMT -6 sherlew99 said:

There is virus protection out there for cell phones, the owner has to install the app. I'll take a look at what's out there for Nintendo consoles.

As far as I know there are no anti-virus apps for Nintendo OS'....I did see a site that had homebrew apps for DS consoles but even if they are legit programs, downloading executable files outside of the Nintendo store might actually harm the console.

Besides to use a homebrewed app I am sure you would have to hack the DS console itself, again possibly doing harm and deffo voiding any warranty you have.

[sherlew99]

I didn't scroll down and see your reply before posting, then didn't amend my post quickly enough. lol I did take a quick look and didn't see much on anti-virus programs for these consoles, just information similar to yours.

[Tomspy77]

Yeah we are posting way too fast here. Mind we don't open a time tunnel and end up in 1562 or something.

[sherlew99]

lol Yeah, we wouldn't want that.

[Tomspy77]

Of course, if we go back in time we could found the Nintendo company and rule the video game industry forever mwa ha ha ha ha!!

*In reality, we DID succeed in going back in time and called the company Atari instead. I personally created the ET cart behind the scenes, resulting in the video game crash that paved the way for Nintendo to dominate the market!!

Time lines are a bitch...*

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_video_game_crash_of_1983

[sherlew99]

Ah ha, that's what happened.


I just looked up 1562; thought it was a familiar date. There was a smallpox plague in London about that time. In fact, Queen Elizabeth caught it.

link

[Tomspy77]

I swear I had nothing to do with that one!

I did however end up meeting the 'missing link' and coughed on him, giving the common cold centuries to become the strongest virus ever...sorry bout that.

[sherlew99]

Tsk tsk