funsec mailing list archives
Aren't emergency messages to cellphones a bad idea?
From: "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>
Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2006 12:45:07 -0400
Here's a thought experiment. Let's say a teenager blasted out 10,000 fake SMS messages to area code 617 warning of an anthrax attack in downtown Boston and that everyone should get out of the area at once. How bad would be the mess? Do we really want a emergency warning system that anyone can use to send out messages of their choice? Part of the problem here is that email addresses of cellphones are predictable and easy to generate in bulk (eg. 6175551234 () vtext com). Richard _____ Crime alerts at your fingertips in Boston http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060620/ap_on_hi_te/computer_crime_alert_1 By KEN MAGUIRE, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 20, 4:27 AM ET BOSTON - Phil Carver may never see the white Maxima stolen near his neighborhood, but the description e-mailed to him by the Boston Police Department will be in the back of his head when he goes for a walk with his kids. Boston has become the latest - and largest - U.S. city to launch a crime alert system designed to get the word out about murders, bank robberies and other crimes to residents and businesses via e-mail, text messaging and fax. "This is stuff I can tell my neighbors," Carver said. "At the very least it keeps people on their toes and aware of what's going on. The more people are aware and involved, the less crime you'll have." Carver, who lives in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood, is among an estimated 1,000 people who have registered since early June shortly after the program was launched in Boston, which has seen a spike in crime over the past 18 months. Alerts are sent not only about various violent crimes, but also about trends, such as car break-ins. Specific types of businesses, such as pizza shops, can be warned of robberies. Alerts also can be sent about fugitives and missing persons. The program is designed to both disseminate and solicit information, at a time when prosecutors complain that witnesses too often remain quiet. The program allows anonymous tips. "The idea of this is to close cases," said Joseph Porcelli, civilian community service officer with the Boston Police Department. "What gets sent out is information that the community needs to know, or can take action on." The department's first alert was about a May 30 bank robbery in South Boston. A young woman wearing dark sunglasses and a Gap sweat shirt made off with an undetermined amount of cash. An alert was sent after two men were fatally shot outside a Dorchester store on Wednesday afternoon. None of the cases have been solved, but officials say there are success stories in other cities using the technology. ... Citizen Observer: <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_hi_te/storytext/computer_crime_al ert/19406053/SIG=11036i2s0/*http://www.citizenobserver.com> http://www.citizenobserver.com
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Current thread:
- Aren't emergency messages to cellphones a bad idea? Richard M. Smith (Jun 20)
- Re: Aren't emergency messages to cellphones a bad idea? Michal Zalewski (Jun 20)
- Re: Aren't emergency messages to cellphones a bad idea? Michal Zalewski (Jun 20)