Beijing, Apr 6 (IANS): Mobile phones will be hackers' main target in the future, according to a network security report.

About 7.12 million Internet-capable smartphones were infected with malicious programmes in 2011, and the number has been increasing rapidly, according to the China's National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team.

The team found and terminated 6,249 malicious programmes last year, more than twice as many as in 2010, China Daily reported Friday.

Hackers often designed software and applications to destroy mobile phone systems to get users' personal information, taking remote control of them and stealing bank account information or passwords, the report said.

More than 1,317 of the malicious programme were used to charge cell phone users fraudulent fees, the report said, adding that it was hackers' source of money.

According to the report, Nokia's Symbian and Google's Android mobile phone systems were targeted by hackers last year. The number of malicious applications aimed at the latter continues to grow.

China Daily said that aside from mobile phones, social websites and online forums, which collect significant user information, have also become easy prey for hackers.