Posted on 02/23/2010 3:56:04 AM PST by decimon
As smartphones become more powerful, they become susceptible to even more sophisticated attacks from hackers. Researchers at Rutgers University in New Jersey recently used a special kind of malicious software, or "malware," called a rootkit to demonstrate just how vulnerable smartphones are.
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In fact, they add, vulnerabilities in smartphones are even more dangerous because people carry them around at all times, making it easier for attackers to eavesdrop, track locations or even collect personal information. Also, features such as Bluetooth receivers and text messaging make it easier to deliver rootkits to phones.
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Another attack uses a common smartphone feature: GPS receivers. A simple text message allowed researchers to track the location and activity of the owner.
"I can listen to all of your corporate meetings where trade secrets are released. I know where you are all the time," said study team member Jeffrey Bickford, also at Rutgers. "In the future, when smartphones are ubiquitous and everyone has them, they can be particularly dangerous."
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(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
...which is why I refuse to ever get a phone with a SIM chip.
I’ve been using a run-of-the-mill phone with Verizon for almost 10 years. When I went into their local store to add the fiancee to my plan, their selection of phones WITHOUT a SIM chip or the need for a data plan was paltry.
The cherubic boy explained to me that “everyone’s on the web now,” and my polite response: “Not everybody, bucko.” Being 30 years old, he looked at me like I had a third eye; as if to say that I’m required to be hip or cool with wireless web. However, almost every provider requires a data plan EVEN IF YOU DON’T WANT IT!
I threatened Verizon to walk; I’m not beholden to any contracts anymore. They caved to my requests, and I’m on their most basic plan.
A phone is a phone, dammit. I don’t need web, apps, instant messaging, email, etc. In a world where the government is tracking people via their phone, I’ll take a landline and a pay-as-you-go phone. I’m sorry, but I cannot justify watching television on a screen smaller than most televisions in the 1950s.
I’ve yet to own a cell phone. I don’t want to be that available and, when on the job, that phone seems to me an electronic leash.
We’ve used an early pay-as-you-go phone for years, no problem, no bells and whistles, it’s a....PHONE! Wow, what a concept.
I mean everything about it is corny, the style, screen graphics (almost non-existant) and menu. But on style, it’s now almost “retro” so we might really be cool!
Had a great bag phone for the car until it became so obsolete that we couldn’t use it, anyone know of a way to upgrade this thing for fun? Reception was second to none and the handset had wonderful clarity.
I lost my personal phone a few months ago, and it turned up underneath a piece of living room furniture (presumed to have been a cat toy at one point). I have to say, it was quite calming to not have that digital leash. I’d considered a home phone, but then the cell turned up again.
Sadly, the cost of a cell phone was less than that of a home phone. I have a cell for work too, so it’s not like I was completely without that leash. I’ll definitely continue to entertain it, but in an emergency, cell towers and landlines likely won’t work anyway.
That’s why I have my HAM radio!
I’m looking for you now, brushcop. I’m sure there’s a way to break open the case and mod it, but I couldn’t tell you off the bat. If I find anything, I’ll report back here.
Thank you. Surfed around the net on upgrades, looks like folks are doing that but I think it’s a bit beyond convenience of what I had in mind. You techno-types are too far advanced for me!
There must be a lot of us to see it that way. But you wouldn't know it to look around at all the wire heads.
>>>I don’t want to be that available and, when on the job, that phone seems to me an electronic leash.
That is precisely the lesson I learned with my carphone in the early 90s. Particularly the leash. I gave the phone away after a few months.
I had no more reason this this to ignore the cellphone craze of the last decade. But between spying, battery fires, and cancer scares, I think I probably guessed right for once.
I don’t understand the draw of being “on-demand.”
I’m 30 years old, I’ve been doing IT work for 15 years, I have no desire to be accessible to God and everyone at any hour of any day. I have a phone, call it, leave a message. I will call you back (at some point).
Two points, one you do not have to give your number to anyone and two, you do not have to answer if it rings.
My wife and I have two cheap pay as you go cell phones ($100 a year).
We travel a lot and there are not many pay phones any more. It is nice to know you can call for help if you need it.
Unless we are expecting a call we don't answer and let the caller fill up our mailbox (once full no more voice or text messages can be left.
A cell phone is a leash only if you allow it to be, otherwise it is a neat tool to have.
A phone is a phone, dammit.
You forgot texting, which to my feeble mind is the most inane cash cow yet invented except for social networking. I have text available as an emergency system in case of a weak battery in the boonies.
I appreciate your points but people can get royally PO’d if you won’t give out your number or won’t pick up a call.
I like the idea of cell phones for convenience and for emergencies but...we’ve created something of a monster with them.
One of the (few) advantages of getting old (I am in my 60s) is you stop caring about what others think or want if they want to intrude on your life.
My family has my home number, they can also email me. Otherwise, the cell phone is for my benefit no one else's.
This reminds me of various stories written by a SF writer. I think his name was Mack Reynolds. Anyway he wrote about a future that sounds very much like what we are heading into with Smart Phones. His Phone did everything and was a Universal Credit/Debit card too. And to make a transaction it took thumbprints directly from the phone as a verification tool.
Anyway he also predicted homes and office building having “Sanctum Sanctorums” built right in where no electronics were allowed. and some even used Candle or Oil Lamps for lighting as a defense against electronic intrusions.
Quite prescient seeing as where we are going. Oh yes, he also predicted a caste System of Upper Middle and Lower class for the populace with the same degrees with each major caste. ie. Upper/Upper, Upper Middle, Lowere Lower etc. Interesting and terrifying at the same time.
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