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Cellphone hacking

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questioniossales
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  • T Offline
    T Offline
    twohowlingdogs
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

    If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

    M S C M S 11 Replies Last reply
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    • T twohowlingdogs

      So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

      If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

      M Offline
      M Offline
      Maximilien
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      a cell phone ( intelligent ?) runs software, software can be hacked, therefore cell phone can be hacked.

      Watched code never compiles.

      1 Reply Last reply
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      • T twohowlingdogs

        So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

        If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

        S Offline
        S Offline
        Slacker007
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        What exactly is your question again? I never saw the question mark.

        ----------------------------- Just along for the ride. -----------------------------

        T 1 Reply Last reply
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        • T twohowlingdogs

          So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

          If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

          C Offline
          C Offline
          Chris Meech
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          twohowlingdogs wrote:

          This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there.

          How do you know that it wasn't through iPhone hacking that caused his email account to be comprimised in the first place? So while he was checking his email, the hackers discovered his userid and password. Is that not a possibility? :)

          Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar] In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is. [Yogi Berra] posting about Crystal Reports here is like discussing gay marriage on a catholic church’s website.[Nishant Sivakumar]

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • T twohowlingdogs

            So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

            If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

            M Offline
            M Offline
            musefan
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Any phone can have software installed that will do something that the user wants it to (if that is what your definition of hacking is) This difference between models would be how it is possible to get said software onto the phone, the older the phone the harder it will be general as their will be less support for data connectivity. Of course, you would assume something like a iPhone would have preventions for some security risks. But all it takes is for you to confirm that an application with bad intentions be allowed to run on your phone and there you go, a hacked phone

            If my jokes make me laugh, then I have already succeeded with 100% of my target audience

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • T twohowlingdogs

              So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

              If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

              S Offline
              S Offline
              S Houghtelin
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              Two truths: Salesmen lie. Cell phones can be hacked. Some are hacked more easily than others and there are some that aren't worth the bother to hack.

              It was broke, so I fixed it.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • S Slacker007

                What exactly is your question again? I never saw the question mark.

                ----------------------------- Just along for the ride. -----------------------------

                T Offline
                T Offline
                twohowlingdogs
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                Come to think of it...? I think I was more looking for confirmation that a cellphone can't be hacked from someone unless they are physically attached to it or can get something onto your phone that will allow them access to the software/OS. So my post was incomplete and therefore I wasn't providing all the proper information for what I was looking for. My bust and apologies. :sigh: You'd think being a developer I'd have thought that yes, if something is running software, it can be hacked. But...the hacker has to have 1. access to the software/OS via a cable or 2. some other software on the device opening up a communication port. So a phone can't be hacked by someone unless one of the two previously mentioned senarios are present. So it is possible my brothers iPhone was hacked as well as his email. Most non-smart phones can't do the second but they can the first.

                If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                G 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • T twohowlingdogs

                  So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

                  If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                  J Offline
                  J Offline
                  Joan M
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  If software is involved it is not safe... You can get it to be audited and marked as safe... but... I don't think they've done that for cell phones... intelligent or not...

                  [www.tamelectromecanica.com] Robots, CNC and PLC machines for grinding and polishing.

                  https://www.robotecnik.com freelance robots, PLC and CNC programmer.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • T twohowlingdogs

                    So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

                    If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                    S Offline
                    S Offline
                    Steve Mayfield
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    Besides e-mails, contact list, address book...etc, grabbing photos / videos off compromised phones can be embarrassing too [^] :-O (sometimes using the bluetooth connection)

                    Steve _________________ I C(++) therefore I am

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • T twohowlingdogs

                      So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

                      If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                      W Offline
                      W Offline
                      wizardzz
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      If it uses electricity, it can be hacked.

                      "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                      C L 2 Replies Last reply
                      0
                      • T twohowlingdogs

                        So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

                        If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                        D Offline
                        D Offline
                        Dan Neely
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Even dumb phones can be attacked. A year or two back I read something about a mal-formed SMS attack that was able to defacto brick lots of different models. IIRC the phones message parsers puked before acking the message to the tower and kept redownloading and bombing every time it was restarted.

                        3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18

                        1 Reply Last reply
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                        • T twohowlingdogs

                          Come to think of it...? I think I was more looking for confirmation that a cellphone can't be hacked from someone unless they are physically attached to it or can get something onto your phone that will allow them access to the software/OS. So my post was incomplete and therefore I wasn't providing all the proper information for what I was looking for. My bust and apologies. :sigh: You'd think being a developer I'd have thought that yes, if something is running software, it can be hacked. But...the hacker has to have 1. access to the software/OS via a cable or 2. some other software on the device opening up a communication port. So a phone can't be hacked by someone unless one of the two previously mentioned senarios are present. So it is possible my brothers iPhone was hacked as well as his email. Most non-smart phones can't do the second but they can the first.

                          If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                          G Offline
                          G Offline
                          gavindon
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          the most common way to hack a phone would be rogue code in an app that you downloaded. For example, I know from personal experience(as an Android developer) that I could write any app, say a card game, and bury code in it that would read every incoming and outgoing message that phone handles and message a copy of that to any number I specify. You as the user would not know it was being done for at least a month until you got your bill with the messages on it. and if you have unlimited text messaging(a lot do) then its likely you might not notice then. While that scenario is not a true hack as such, it gives you the idea of what can be done.

                          Programming is a race between programmers trying to build bigger and better idiot proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots, so far... the universe is winning. A crisis on your part does not constitute one on mine.

                          C 1 Reply Last reply
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                          • W wizardzz

                            If it uses electricity, it can be hacked.

                            "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                            C Offline
                            C Offline
                            CMullikin
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            I once hacked a toaster.... into pieces.

                            The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • T twohowlingdogs

                              So my sister was at the store and the sales person tried to convince her that a cellphone cannot be hacked. Before I reply, I want to make sure I have this right. A smart phone is like a mini-computer. A computer can be hacked therefore a smart phone can be hacked. A normal (what else do you call them? Dumb?) cellphone can't be hacked. There isn't anything to hack! I'm sure the signal can be intercepted but that's not hacking. This was brought up because there were spam postings to our family group site from my brother who said he's only been using his iPhone for checking email. I don't think someone hacked his cellphone. They hacked his email account. Big difference there. But that's besides the point of my question which was hacking a phone.

                              If you know what I mean...and I think you do...

                              L Offline
                              L Offline
                              LloydA111
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              I work in the embedded systems/hardware area (see my profile) and yes, phones can be hacked. However, it is VERY device specific etc.


                              See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                              So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                              The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • W wizardzz

                                If it uses electricity, it can be hacked.

                                "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                                L Offline
                                L Offline
                                LloydA111
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                I would like to see how you could hack a battery and an LED. ;)


                                See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                                So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                                The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                                W 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • L LloydA111

                                  I would like to see how you could hack a battery and an LED. ;)


                                  See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                                  So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                                  The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                                  W Offline
                                  W Offline
                                  wizardzz
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  Isn't circuit bending technically a hardware hack? Instead of just remaining on, you can make the LED blink using a timer, react to sounds and other input, etc.

                                  "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                                  L 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • W wizardzz

                                    Isn't circuit bending technically a hardware hack? Instead of just remaining on, you can make the LED blink using a timer, react to sounds and other input, etc.

                                    "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    LloydA111
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    wizardzz wrote:

                                    Instead of just remaining on, you can make the LED blink using a timer, react to sounds and other input, etc.

                                    Correct, but this is just electronics, not hacking. ;P


                                    See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                                    So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                                    The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                                    W 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • L LloydA111

                                      wizardzz wrote:

                                      Instead of just remaining on, you can make the LED blink using a timer, react to sounds and other input, etc.

                                      Correct, but this is just electronics, not hacking. ;P


                                      See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                                      So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                                      The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                                      W Offline
                                      W Offline
                                      wizardzz
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      Then any hardware hack is going to be "just electronics" then.

                                      "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                                      L 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • W wizardzz

                                        Then any hardware hack is going to be "just electronics" then.

                                        "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                                        L Offline
                                        L Offline
                                        LloydA111
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        wizardzz wrote:

                                        Then any hardware hack is going to be "just electronics" then.

                                        Not always, for example, I would class modifying the code in a microcontroller (for example) a hack (mainly if it was one you did not program yourself).


                                        See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                                        So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                                        The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                                        W 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • L LloydA111

                                          wizardzz wrote:

                                          Then any hardware hack is going to be "just electronics" then.

                                          Not always, for example, I would class modifying the code in a microcontroller (for example) a hack (mainly if it was one you did not program yourself).


                                          See if you can crack this: b749f6c269a746243debc6488046e33f
                                          So far, no one seems to have cracked this!

                                          The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                                          W Offline
                                          W Offline
                                          wizardzz
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Wouldn't that technically be a software hack?

                                          "I have a theory that the truth is never told during the nine-to-five hours. " — Hunter S. Thompson

                                          L 1 Reply Last reply
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