Mobile security threats are expected to triple next year as smart phones and other mobile devices become more prevalent, according to a study released Monday by McAfee Avert Labs.

The number of malicious software programs created for mobile devices is expected to reach 726 by the end of 2006, up from an estimated 226 at the end of 2005, according to McAfee. Mobile malware is not the only area expected to rise in the new year, said Craig Schmugar, virus research manager for McAfee Avert Labs.

Targeted phishing attacks and potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), such as adware and spyware, are also anticipated to increase. But growth in malicious programs for mobile phones is expected to accelerate the fastest. "They're gaining increased interest from the virus (writing) community," Schmugar said.

"And as these devices become more pervasive, they become a bigger target." Compounding the problem is consumers' lack of interest in applying security software to their mobile devices, Schmugar added. Many consumers view the threat of a mobile attack as less likely to affect them than an infiltration on their PCs, he noted.