Hacking into Microsoft's new Smartphone?

[David Farber <farber () tmail com>]

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan A. Reiter <alan.reiter () verizon net>
To: David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Subject: Hacking into Microsoft's new Smartphone?
Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2003 16:14:58 -0500

CNET News reports that Microsoft and U.K. cellular operator Orange are
investigating whether hackers are sending "rogue software" to Orange's 
new
phone that has MS software.

According to Ben Charny's report, "Instructions about avoiding the 
security
catches inside the smart phone, which Orange sells and calls the SPV, 
were
made public the last few days, Orange spokesman Stuart Jackson said
Wednesday. The SPV is the only wireless device on sale that uses 
Microsoft's
operating system for advanced phones.  A source familiar with the 
situation
said most SPV owners won't know whether they have been affected. To 
launch
the rogue programs, an SPV owner will have to know how to "unlock" a 
cell
phone, a difficult process that sometimes involves taking the phone 
apart.
'It's not something that my granny is about to do,' said the source 
who
requested anonymity."

Microsoft began investigating the possibility on Tuesday.  No reports 
of
"damaged phones."

http://news.com.com/2100-1033-980803.html?tag=fd_top


Alan

--------------------------------
Alan A. Reiter, president
Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing consulting
E-Mail: reiter () wirelessinternet com
Phone: 1-301-951-0385
Web site: http://www.wirelessinternet.com
Web Logs: http://reiter.weblogger.com
-- Dave

-------------------------------------
You are subscribed as interesting-people () lists elistx com
To unsubscribe or update your address, click
 http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ip

Archives at: http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/