Android security flaw

[pr_capone]

Figure there are Android phone users out there that don't visit the Media Center that might be affected by this which is why this is in the Lounge. I have added the QR code below that will link you directly to the test site (in case you aren't reading from your mobile).

SCAN:


OR CLICK:
http://www.isk.kth.se/~rbbo/testussd.html

http://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/articl...security_flaw/

A security flaw has been discovered on various Android smartphones that allows a USSD code to perform a factory reset without any confirmation prompt. Is your Android phone at risk? Here's how to find out.

The USSD flaw was highlighted overnight at a Security Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina by Ravi Borganokar, a researcher in the telecommunications department at the Technical University of Berlin. It was first said to occur only on various Samsung smartphones running the TouchWIZ UI overlay, but it has since been discovered that the problem can affect various other Android phones, too.

The USSD codes themselves aren't a problem, but on some Android phones these can be executed without a confirmation prompt. Some of these codes, typed into the phones keypad, are harmless (such as the one used to display a phone's IMEI number) but other codes can factory reset the phone. USSD codes typically start with an asterisk (*) followed by numbers and almost always end with a hash (#).

On Android phones that don't require a confirmation prompt, a factory reset USSD code can be dialled automatically by the phone. While it's almost impossible to dial the code into the dialler accidentally, this code could be embedded into a URL link, a QR code, or an SMS by a hacker. This would mean you phone would be factory reset as soon as you opened the malicious link.

To check if your Android phone is vulnerable, follow these steps:

1. Visit this link through your phone's Web browser. Don't worry, it's a test page so it's not going to reset your phone!

2. If your phone's dialler pops up and shows a number, your phone isn't affected and there's no need to worry. This is shown below on a Sony Xperia go:



However, if your phones dialler pops up and immediately displays a pop up menu with your IMEI number, your phone is vulnerable to this security flaw. This is displayed below on a Samsung Galaxy S III:



To fix this security flaw until your carrier or manufacturer issues a patch for the problem, you can download an app called TelStop. You can find it in the Google Play Store here.

[ZepSinger]

Thanks for this. Apparently no issue with my Galaxy Nexus.

Z

[htismaqe]

Thanks. My Motorola Droid X2 and my wife's Motorola Electrify were both affected.

[Dr. Gigglepants]

My HTC Amaze is apparently vulnerable as well.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Lzen]

Thanks. Apparently, my Xperia X10 is vulnerable.

[BigMeatballDave]

Mine is too.

I'm not worried about it.

Factory reset doesn't hurt the phone.

Sure, you can lose pics and music on your device, but you should back that stuff up anyway.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Dave

Mine is too.

I'm not worried about it.

Factory reset doesn't hurt the phone.

Sure, you can lose pics and music on your device, but you should back that stuff up anyway.

...

If this were an iPhone flaw, this thread would have 100 posts already. At least 30 or so from you....

[DaFace]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

...

If this were an iPhone flaw, this thread would have 100 posts already. At least 30 or so from you....

I'm sure you're right, but many of us who bitch frequently switch ROMs anyway. I've done a factory reset on my phone 3-4 times in the past month alone, so this wouldn't be any big deal.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by DaFace

I'm sure you're right, but many of us who bitch frequently switch ROMs anyway. I've done a factory reset on my phone 3-4 times in the past month alone, so this wouldn't be any big deal.

Yep.

Zero worries on my end.

[pr_capone]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

...

If this were an iPhone flaw, this thread would have 100 posts already. At least 30 or so from you....

A big reason why there aren't 100 posts in this thread already is because of the minute differences between UI's depending on brand and carrier. Not all Android phones were affected by this while a security gap of this nature on an iPhone would most likely affect every single one.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

...

If this were an iPhone flaw, this thread would have 100 posts already. At least 30 or so from you....

I suspect those will be on the way.

Jobs was a ****ing Nazi but (good or bad) he cared about his product. Honestly he was ****ing Narcissus with his products.

Whatever you think the quality of Apple was before he died I have serious doubts it gets any better now. It will undoubtedly become more access-able but (YAY for coorporate!) I doubt you'll see the same emphasis on making a quality product over being a PC that looks like Ikea furniture...

[Fish]

Originally Posted by Rausch

I suspect those will be on the way.

Jobs was a ****ing Nazi but (good or bad) he cared about his product. Honestly he was ****ing Narcissus with his products.

Whatever you think the quality of Apple was before he died I have serious doubts it gets any better now. It will undoubtedly become more access-able but (YAY for coorporate!) I doubt you'll see the same emphasis on making a quality product over being a PC that looks like Ikea furniture...

Apple's quality has already decreased since Jobs died. And the future of Apple looks pretty shitty at the moment. I've not been happy with much they've done over the last year or more. And what is known about their future plans looks really awful. I'm afraid Apple is not going to be more accessible in the future. I expect quite the opposite.

Apple has completely abandoned the enterprise usage of their products. They no longer care about the enterprise environment at all(**** corporate!). Several people high up on the Apple corporate ladder have told me that directly. Their focus is now on the hipster experience using thin shiny gadgets, and the interconnectivity of Apple devices.

I was simply trying to point out the difference in attitude toward Apple flaws and Android flaws. Android flaws are discovered, and users are saying "Yeah, my phone was compromised, but meh... I'd only lose this and this and this..." But when Apple flaws are discovered, there's a platoon of Apple haters that instantly jump on board to laugh and point fingers at stupid Apple users. Lots of examples of this... I just find it fascinating that there's such a stark contrast between support of the two.

[BigMeatballDave]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I was simply trying to point out the difference in attitude toward Apple flaws and Android flaws. Android flaws are discovered, and users are saying "Yeah, my phone was compromised, but meh... I'd only lose this and this and this..." But when Apple flaws are discovered, there's a platoon of Apple haters that instantly jump on board to laugh and point fingers at stupid Apple users. Lots of examples of this... I just find it fascinating that there's such a stark contrast between support of the two.

The difference is, Android users recognize the flaws and limitations of Android, and do not consider it the 'end all, be all' of devices.

[Rausch]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

Apple's quality has already decreased since Jobs died. And the future of Apple looks pretty shitty at the moment.

At some point it will go back to the point like when they were selling units a Sears.

That's a shame, a disgrace, but inevitable...

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by KC Fish

I was simply trying to point out the difference in attitude toward Apple flaws and Android flaws. Android flaws are discovered, and users are saying "Yeah, my phone was compromised, but meh... I'd only lose this and this and this..." But when Apple flaws are discovered, there's a platoon of Apple haters that instantly jump on board to laugh and point fingers at stupid Apple users. Lots of examples of this... I just find it fascinating that there's such a stark contrast between support of the two.

People just enjoy trying to bring down the "Top Dog" a notch.


See Microsoft, Wal Mart, etc.......

Personally, i dont care what other people buy or do with their money. It doesnt affect me. No one should be ridiculed for buying a product they like and enjoy.