There comes a point when you just have to feel bad for RIM. Research In Motion doesn’t create bad products. But, RIM can’t ever catch a break. The last thing that this Canadian company needs is bad publicity. Unfortunately, that’s the very thing that’s headed in BlackBerry’s direction at the moment. There’s a new strain of malware circulating that’s targeting (quite successfully) BlackBerry users. If you are still holding onto your BlackBerry, there are a few things that you should know in order to avoid the recent malware outbreak.

Say No to that Email

The BlackBerry problem that’s happening right now has to do with your email. If you are targeted, you will receive an email that states: your BlackBerry account has been created. Inside of the email all will seem official. In fact, the email mimics the emails that RIM sends out to BlackBerry users who have just created accounts. The email itself isn’t a problem, but the attachment that comes with the email is.

When a user opens up the email attachment, the file is then downloaded. This file contains malicious malware. The installed malware will then allow hackers to spread the problem further. Within minutes, a BlackBerry phone can be attacked. What if you already created a BlackBerry ID and you aren’t a new user? Really, it doesn’t matter. You may still receive the false email, assume that there’s a problem with your current ID, and wind up downloading the attached malware.

What This Malware Does

If you have the misfortune of downloading the BlackBerry malware, your system will be corrupted. The malware attachment installs additional malware throughout a phone’s system registry. This registry will then cause the downloaded malware to activate whenever the system is turned on. In short, shutting your phone off once it has been infected will not fix the problem.

The best way to avoid this new malware is not to open any email attachments that seem to come from RIM. If you see the subject line: Your BlackBerry ID Has Been Created, don’t open it. Erase the email. Otherwise, you could be setting your phone up for a swift takeover. Interestingly, malicious emails are also being sent to people who do not have a BlackBerry. So, if you happen to have any other phone and you get an email from RIM, be aware that this is just an attempt to infect your system. Also, note that the email might be sent to your personal computer (not just your mobile device).

Preventative Measures

As with most other things in life, the best way to avoid any kind of malware is to consider where an email is coming from. If you do not know who sent an attachment or why an attachment was sent, do not open it until you find out. This particular BlackBerry malware is quite bad, has impacted tons of global users already, and may just be sent your way. Poor RIM, the downtrodden BlackBerry manufacturer just can’t catch a break.