sms

Windows phone date bug appears limited

Microsoft said late Monday that a text message problem with certain Windows Mobile phones appears to be limited to a small percentage of devices.

Since earlier this month, some phones have been receiving text messages that appear to be coming from the future--2016, to be specific. The problem appears to be limited to HTC phones running on Sprint's network.

Microsoft said on Monday that its partners, whom it did not identify by name, are working on a solution.

"Working with our partners, we've determined that the issue impacts only a small percentage of phones," a … Read more

Texting essential

Android's management of text messages leaves much to be desired, which is why enhancement apps proliferate. Like others, the free Handcent SMS pops up text messages on your screen, complete with the contact's photo (if you've got one for that person) the message, management icons, and a text field for replies. You have some control over the theme and skin, and many more customizations when it comes to notifications and adding a personal signature. We'd like to see a greater number of skins and themes in future releases, but even as is, Handcent SMS is a … Read more

Telecom providers announce LTE standard

In the battle between LTE and WiMax for wireless broadband, LTE may have just gotten another boost.

A group of leading telecom service and equipment providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Nokia, and Samsung, announced a new standard Thursday for delivering compatible voice and messaging services using Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.

The standard, dubbed the One Voice initiative, offers a set of technical functionalities that telecommunication companies can use in their LTE services and products to provide both voice and Short Message Services (SMS).

The group of companies setting up One Voice (which also includes LTE proponents Orange, Telefonica, … Read more

Google Voice and Gmail are sort of merging

Two new little Google Voice features just made their way into Gmail. A new option lets text messages sent to Google Voice show up as e-mail messages in Gmail. You can reply to messages from Gmail, too, which makes it a nice platform for carrying on a text message conversation.

Also, there's a new Labs feature in Gmail that lets you play your Google Voice voicemail messages from inside the Gmail viewer. Previously, Gmail would send you the text transcript of your message, but if you wanted to play the audio file, it would open a new browser window … Read more

BOL 1031: Happy SysAdmin Day!

Today, the last Friday of July is SysAdmin day and we appreciate them even more because they came through during the live show and got us back online. We also talk about David Pogue's new movement to "take back the beep." And we need to watch out for pandas. Listen and you'll find out why. Special guests: The hosts of Hak5.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 1031

Apple to fix iPhone security flaw http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8177755.stm

The truth about the iPhone virus / vulnerability thing http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ByteOfTheApple/blog/archives/2009/07/the_truth_about.html

Elinor: Researchers attack my iPhone via SMS http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10299378-245.html

David Pogue wants to take back the beep http://tech.slashdot.org/story/09/07/30/1955255/David-Pogue-Wants-to-Take-Back-the-Beep

Bootkit bypasses Truecrypt full-disk encryption http://www.h-online.com/security/Bootkit-bypasses-hard-disk-encryption–/news/113884

Hackers: We can bypass San Francisco e-parking meters http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10300233-83.html

HP researchers reveal details of browser-based darknet http://www.h-online.com/security/HP-researchers-reveal-details-of-browser-based-darknet–/news/113873

Shock threat to shut Skype http://www.smh.com.au/technology/biz-tech/shock-threat-to-shut-skype-20090731-e3qe.html

CU prof’s iPhone app lets users snoop out surroundings http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/jul/29/iphone-app-hoozat-cu-boulder-professor-richard-han

Cash for Clunkers cars get lethal injections http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/cash-for-clunkers-trade-ins-must-be-crushed-shredded/ http://money.cnn.com/2009/07/31/autos/cash_for_clunkers_update/index.htm

Fewer than 10 ET civilizations in our galaxy? http://science.slashdot.org/story/09/07/31/1244235/Fewer-Than-10-ET-Civilizations-In-Our-Galaxy

Police: Texting, talking NY trucker hits car, pool http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090731/ap_on_hi_te/us_tow_truck_in_pool… Read more

Apple fixes iPhone SMS flaw

Apple on Friday fixed an SMS-related security flaw in the iPhone that had been at the center of one of the most talked-about exploits at this week's Black Hat security conference.

"We appreciate the information provided to us about SMS vulnerabilities which affect several mobile phone platforms," Apple representative Tom Neumayr told CNET.

"This morning, less than 24 hours after a demonstration of this exploit," Neumayr continued, "we've issued a free software update that eliminates the vulnerability from the iPhone. Contrary to what's been reported, no one has been able to take … Read more

An SMS can force a URL or app on smartphones

LAS VEGAS--In one of a handful of SMS-related presentations here at the Black Hat security show, researchers demonstrated on Thursday how they can force certain types of smartphones to visit a malicious URL or install an app without user approval.

The vulnerability only affects phones that have been misconfigured by the original equipment manufacturer so that they accept any message sent through WAP Push (Wireless Application Protocol), a service that runs on top of SMS, said researcher John Hering.

WAP Push messages should only be accepted when sent by a trusted party such as the mobile operator, said Hering, chief … Read more

Researchers can attack mobile phones via spoofed SMS messages

LAS VEGAS--Researchers at the Black Hat security conference on Thursday showed how an attacker could spoof a type of SMS message that appears to be sent from the carrier or some other trusted source.

This attack on MMS (multimedia messaging service) messages, a type of SMS message, could allow an attacker to trick the recipient into visiting a malicious Web site or ultimately do something else to harm the phone or steal data.

The attacks work potentially on any type of phone that is MMS-enabled and operating on Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) networks, said Zane Lackey, a senior … Read more

Researchers attack my iPhone via SMS

LAS VEGAS--Researchers have discovered a way to take complete control over an iPhone merely by sending special SMS messages and demonstrated it on my iPhone at the Black Hat security conference on Wednesday.

Although an attacker could exploit the hole to make calls, steal data, send text messages, and do basically anything that I can do with my iPhone, the researchers were kind and merely rendered it temporarily inoperable.

Here's what happened: While I was talking on the phone to Charlie Miller, his partner, Collin Mulliner, sent me a text message from his phone. One minute I'm talking … Read more