Fake smartphone apps 'steal data'

Hi-tech criminals are turning their attention from pcs to smartphones, with malicious applications designed to steal saleable personal information.

A special report by BBC News has shown how straightforward it is to create a fake application, using standard parts from the software toolkits that developers use to create programs for handsets.

The application was able to retrieve data such as contacts and text messages, log the phone's location and send it to a specially set-up e-mail address.

Mark Ward reports.