SMS Hack Could Make iPhones Vulnerable

SMS Hack Could Make iPhones Vulnerable 254

Posted by CmdrTaco on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:13AM from the up-against-the-wall-and-spread-'em dept.

mhx writes "A single character sent by text message could allegedly compromise every iPhone released to date. The technique involves sending only one unusual text character or else a series of 'invisible' messages that confuse the phone and open the door to attack. Apple has not released any updates yet, so little can be done, except to power off your iPhone to avoid being hacked."

SMS Hack Could Make iPhones Vulnerable

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"SMS Hack Could Makes iPhones Vulnerable" (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:17AM (#28881709)

In other news, the same SMS hack can be used to make headlines appear with wrongly used verbs...

App Store (Score:5, Funny)

by oldspewey ( 1303305 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:18AM (#28881725)

Want to pwn every apple smartphone in the world?
There's an app for that.

Text character? (Score:5, Funny)

by pushing-robot ( 1037830 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:20AM (#28881779)

The technique involves sending only one unusual text character
Let me guess: "Q". Damned "Q".

Right-click, wha? (Score:5, Funny)

by johnthorensen ( 539527 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:25AM (#28881861)

Apparently Apple was going to require *two* unusual text characters for the iPwn hack, but Steve Jobs insisted that this would be too complicated for their users.

In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

by 6Yankee ( 597075 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:29AM (#28881915)

...sex offenders start a mass SMS-sending campaign...

That's okay. (Score:5, Funny)

by FlyingSquidStudios ( 1031284 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:29AM (#28881923)

No one ever sends me SMS messages, so I'd be flattered they noticed me if I was hacked. So lonely...

The series of invisible characters (Score:5, Funny)

by blind biker ( 1066130 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:32AM (#28881971) Journal

It is here:

Re:Text character? (Score:3, Funny)

by Yvan256 ( 722131 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:33AM (#28881987) Homepage Journal

I guess he got bored of annoying only a handful of starship captains.

Re:Text character? (Score:4, Funny)

by viking099 ( 70446 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:34AM (#28882003)

Thanks a lot ass^7'89-NO CARRIER

Why worry? (Score:5, Funny)

by PPH ( 736903 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:34AM (#28882005)

I, for on am not concrnd. It's simply a mattr of not snding that charactr. Crtainly, a company lik Appl can hav it xcludd from th alphabt. And thn w can just gt on with our livs, njoying our iPhons.

The Secret string is: (Score:5, Funny)

by spydum ( 828400 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:44AM (#28882149)

+++ATH0

Re:Why worry? (Score:2, Funny)

by Midgarn ( 1447063 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:49AM (#28882255)

I, for on am not concrnd. It's simply a mattr of not snding that charactr. Crtainly, a company lik Appl can hav it xcludd from th alphabt. And thn w can just gt on with our livs, njoying our iPhons.
What happns whn th hackrs dcid to switch to a diffrnt charactr? How will Appl rspond thn?
I, fr n am nt cncrnd. It's simply a mattr f nt snding that charactr. Crtainly, a cmpany lik Appl can hav it xcludd frm th alphabt. And thn w can just gt n with ur livs, njying ur iPhns.
What happns whn th hackrs dcid t switch t a diffrnt charactr? Hw will Appl rspnd thn?
h.

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

by jmahler ( 192217 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:51AM (#28882273) Homepage

i see what you did there. Awesome. :)
Mod funny please.

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

by Yvan256 ( 722131 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:57AM (#28882371) Homepage Journal

Mods: I think he was referring to the parent above him for the "mod funny" comment.

Re:Is this why they were distracting us yesterday? (Score:5, Funny)

by Bemopolis ( 698691 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @10:57AM (#28882373)

All this from a company where the CEO's liver is replaceable, but the battery in your phone or laptop is not.
The battery in the iPhone and laptop are replaceable, just not by the owner. This was also the case for Steve's liver. JOKE FAIL.
<\memekiller>

It's a good thing more people don't jailbreak (Score:1, Funny)

by FlyingBishop ( 1293238 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:02AM (#28882443)

If there were more jail-broken phones, hackers could get into your phone without even doing anything at all. That's how much less secure the iPhone would be if they allowed jail-breaking.

Here's what to do (Score:5, Funny)

by yellowstone ( 62484 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:12AM (#28882563) Homepage Journal

If you survive the initial peril (the next thirty hours or so), then there are obvious procedures that can give relative safety: Do not accept High Beyond protocol packets. At the very least, route all communications through Middle Beyond sites, with translation down to, and then up from, local trade languages.

Re:Is this why they were distracting us yesterday? (Score:2, Funny)

by machine321 ( 458769 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:17AM (#28882649)

The battery in the iPhone and laptop are replaceable, just not by the owner. This was also the case for Steve's liver. JOKE FAIL.

A sufficiently experienced user can replace his liver; I'll bet Steve Wozniak could do it.

Re:In other news... (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:25AM (#28882755)

Mod parent funny!

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

by Yvan256 ( 722131 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:31AM (#28882831) Homepage Journal

Mods are on crack today!
Mod parent funny!

Re:Right-click, wha? (Score:5, Funny)

by johnthorensen ( 539527 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:37AM (#28882915)

Well the jerk store called, and they're running out of...[iPhone Restarting]

Re:Read about this yesterday (Score:4, Funny)

by emag ( 4640 ) writes: <`slashdot' `at' `gurski.org'> on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:42AM (#28882983) Homepage

500?! Egads, that's gonna cost a _fortune_ at today's txting rates!

Re:In other news... (Score:2, Funny)

by sammyF70 ( 1154563 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:44AM (#28883025) Homepage Journal

mod me and my wife funny!

Re:Why worry? (Score:3, Funny)

by D Ninja ( 825055 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @11:45AM (#28883051)

What happns whn th hackrs dcid to switch to a diffrnt charactr? How will Appl rspond thn?
ppl will kp rmving chrctrs frm th lphbt. Thy r ppl. Thy cn d whtvr thy wnt.

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @12:03PM (#28883293)

I modded your wife alright.

Re:Read about this yesterday (Score:3, Funny)

by d3ac0n ( 715594 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @12:04PM (#28883297)

unless you have an unlimited plan.

Re:The series of invisible characters (Score:2, Funny)

by jimthehorsegod ( 1210220 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @01:03PM (#28884127)

Yeah sure: hunter2

Re:Beer summit (Score:4, Funny)

by sexconker ( 1179573 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @01:03PM (#28884137)

BEEP BEEP
I AM AC
I AM A ROBOT
I HAVE A ROBOT VAGINA
BOOP
Filter error: Don't use so many caps. It's like YELLING. I AM NOT YELLING I AM A ROBOT THIS IS HOW ROBOTS TALK BOOP

Re:Text character? (Score:4, Funny)

by sexconker ( 1179573 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @01:08PM (#28884221)

Because it's easier for me to test, dammit.
I make all these fucking routers and cable modems and shit by hand. Maybe if one of you fuckers would help me we wouldn't have this problem.

Re:Text character? (Score:2, Funny)

by KingPin27 ( 1290730 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @01:26PM (#28884539)

Very interesting you mention that.... it was common practice for people using a BBS or 2 where I live to "ANSI BOMB" the bbs -- they would put the modem hangup chars into specially crafted ANSI messages. I was nice because the NFO for the file you were downloading looked pretty until your 9600 Baud modem hung up on you before you could download your ARJ files!! :P

Re:Well... (Score:3, Funny)

by Kral_Blbec ( 1201285 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @01:49PM (#28884861)

a, 2, d? WTF? Back in my day we used 1, 2, 3; a, b, c; or I, II, III... Seems a person can just grab any random 3 characters to make an ordered list nowdays. Now get off my lawn.

Re:Binary Encoded Messages (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @01:50PM (#28884869)

Your heralding of Android is flawed, the Blackberry OS isn't affected at all! So it's CLEARLY better. HAHA!

Re:Binary Encoded Messages (Score:4, Funny)

by davester666 ( 731373 ) writes: on Thursday July 30, 2009 @02:36PM (#28885705) Journal

Nope, the 3 Pre users are completely safe. They only text amongst themselves.

Re:Binary Encoded Messages (Score:3, Funny)

by FireFury03 ( 653718 ) writes: <slashdot@NoSPAm.nexusuk.org> on Thursday July 30, 2009 @02:51PM (#28885967) Homepage

I already get pissed off that there is no way to enter a "Å" character into my P900
Seems Slashdot is also broken at handling unicode characters - that is supposed to be a "Y" with a "^" accent.

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SMS Hack Could Make iPhones Vulnerable 254

SMS Hack Could Make iPhones Vulnerable More Login

SMS Hack Could Make iPhones Vulnerable

"SMS Hack Could Makes iPhones Vulnerable" (Score:5, Funny)

App Store (Score:5, Funny)

Text character? (Score:5, Funny)

Right-click, wha? (Score:5, Funny)

In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

That's okay. (Score:5, Funny)

The series of invisible characters (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Text character? (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Text character? (Score:4, Funny)

Why worry? (Score:5, Funny)

The Secret string is: (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Why worry? (Score:2, Funny)

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Is this why they were distracting us yesterday? (Score:5, Funny)

It's a good thing more people don't jailbreak (Score:1, Funny)

Here's what to do (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Is this why they were distracting us yesterday? (Score:2, Funny)

Re:In other news... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Right-click, wha? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Read about this yesterday (Score:4, Funny)

Re:In other news... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Why worry? (Score:3, Funny)

Re:In other news... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Read about this yesterday (Score:3, Funny)

Re:The series of invisible characters (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Beer summit (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Text character? (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Text character? (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Well... (Score:3, Funny)

Re:Binary Encoded Messages (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Binary Encoded Messages (Score:4, Funny)

Re:Binary Encoded Messages (Score:3, Funny)

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