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'Every iPhone in the World' at Risk Tomorrow

Text-messaging flaw could let hackers take over your mobile

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 29, 2009 1:40 PM CDT

(Newser) – The iPhone’s text-messaging system has a dangerous flaw that hackers could exploit to take control of your phone, researchers say. They’ll reveal the trouble at a conference tomorrow, Forbes reports. So if you get a text with a “single square character,” turn off your phone right away—it could mean someone’s already trying to take advantage of the bug.

“Someone could pretty quickly take over every iPhone in the world with this,” says one of the experts. The bug could let the hacker control all the phone’s functions, including making phone calls and sending texts to other phones. Windows Mobile contains an analogous flaw, researchers say, and both Google’s Android phone and the iPhone had bugs that would allow hackers to disable their network connections—though Google has patched the problem.

iPhone fans await the first day of sales of iPhone 3GS in Tokyo, June 26, 2009.
iPhone fans await the first day of sales of iPhone 3GS in Tokyo, June 26, 2009.   (AP Photo)
An Apple iPhone.
An Apple iPhone.   (AP Photo)
An Apple iPhone 3GS.
An Apple iPhone 3GS.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Netstorm2k10
Jul 30, 2009 11:16 AM CDT
Is my 20 dollar Tracphone still safe?
bewilderbeast
Jul 30, 2009 10:02 AM CDT
I disagree! It definitely is asking too much to ask for a cover up! Why should known flaws not be made public? Do you work for Gates? Thank you Matt Cantor for telling all.
bewilderbeast
Jul 30, 2009 9:59 AM CDT
Yes it is asking too much to expect the media to cover up any flaws which may affect us! If ANY reporter knows of something they should tell us! Why on earth would you rather be in the dark? Do you work for Gates?
 

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