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Technical News & Discussion => Mobile Devices News & Discussion => Topic started by: Gary on Jul 31, 2009, 09:52:46

Title: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Gary on Jul 31, 2009, 09:52:46
Quote "Mobile handsets including iPhones and those using Windows Mobile or Google's Android operating system are vulnerable to text-based attacks, say experts"

Software code that arrives in a text message can hijack the phones, said Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas.

The malware could knock phones off the network or access data and programs.

The team say that hackers could develop programs to exploit the weakness in as little as two weeks.

So far only Google has addresed the issue.

Maybe I'll delay leaving my symbian platform just yet  :evil:

Full story here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8177755.stm
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Rik on Jul 31, 2009, 09:53:32
I have a dumb phone. ;D
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Gary on Jul 31, 2009, 09:57:18
Quote from: Rik on Jul 31, 2009, 09:53:32
I have a dumb phone. ;D
I have a dumb ear still
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Rik on Jul 31, 2009, 09:57:30
 ;D
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: somanyholes on Jul 31, 2009, 12:24:43
never mind the addressbook etc.

send sms to victim

1. turn on microphone
2. turn on gps tracking
3. hop off phone onto local lan/ or use phone to hack wireless lans.

it's all fun at the moment. So many new holes ;) have been shown lately in pretty much everything....
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Rik on Jul 31, 2009, 12:31:19
Living up to you name again, So. :)
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Sebby on Jul 31, 2009, 13:00:05
With iPhone OS 3.1 imminent, I suspect this'll be fixed very soon.
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: somanyholes on Jul 31, 2009, 13:02:18
apple have been aware for a while sebby and the researcher/s did responsible disclosure.


for you gary... symbian

http://www.darknet.org.uk/2009/07/chinese-firm-writes-first-sms-worm/
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Sebby on Jul 31, 2009, 13:04:51
Yep, I read that. I suspect that now it's in the news, it'll be dealt with.
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Sebby on Jul 31, 2009, 16:12:20
Apple thought to be issuing a fix tomorrow:

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/31/apple-to-release-fix-for-iphone-sms-vulnerability-on-saturday/
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Rik on Jul 31, 2009, 16:16:48
It would be better if text messages were offered, rather than pushed, wouldn't it.
Title: Re: How safe is your smartphone?
Post by: Sebby on Jul 31, 2009, 20:59:14
Apple have released 3.0.1 to fix this vulnerability. Pretty good, I think.

http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/31/apple-releases-iphone-os-3-0-1-to-address-sms-security-vulnerability/