Security Flaw In Windows Phone: Signs of Things to Come?
Linked by David Adams on Wed 14th Dec 2011 15:41 UTC, submitted by bowkota
Privacy, Security, Encryption A malicious message sent to Windows Phone's message hub can disable the handset in a manner reminiscent of the "nuking" attack from the Windows 95 days. At the point the bad message is received, the phone reboots, and worst of all, it appears that the message hub application is permanently disabled. Back when people used to only use their phones to call and text, you'd perhaps think that having your phone reboot on you would be no big deal. But these days I find myself often as not composing some important missive.
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Morgan
Member since:
2005-06-29

On the other hand you are 100% of you. So it's OK to feel bad if you chose something that took advantage of your particular character traits even if only a scant few million out of 7 billion will suffer for having those characteristics. You can even call it my fault.


What the hell does that even mean? I don't feel bad for choosing this phone, in fact it's the best smartphone I've owned since 2006. I'm following the same maxim I always do: The right tool for the job. Android is fine for tablets (I love it on my Nook Color) but it's not stable enough for phone use in my experience. BlackBerry is nice and stable (and secure) but behind the times. iOS is cute and flashy but it's just not quite there for my needs. WP7 is a breath of fresh air and so far has met and/or exceeded all my expectations.

Do you also use Visual Studio? Because the same text string can crash that too. How about Blend? Silverlight? WPF?


Nope, Windows is not my current main OS at home, and I don't use any of those apps at work either.


Surely there was no way to anticipate that an M$ product would be negatively impacted by the attempt to process a string of text!

Oh, wait ...

You might consider wearing a bullseye mask.


And you trot out the usual anti-Microsoft spiel, complete with a troll badge of honor ("M$"). Look, I'm no fan of the company myself, but lately their non-PC stuff has been pretty good (Xbox 360, WP7). Don't act as if this kind of thing ONLY happens to Microsoft, it makes you look quite the fool. You forget that OS X was the first to fall in Pwn2Own two years in a row.


But since it's my fault I will simply forbid you from doing so.


Twice now you have claimed that I somehow blame you for something. How childish and passive-aggressive of you! But hey, it must be all about you right?

Now: Sell or throw away your phone. Immediately!

Problem solved. (;


No thanks, I really like the phone. And I stand by my original statement (which you conveniently never addressed): Don't be the dick who assumes that just because YOU don't own a WP7 phone that this issue is inconsequential and not worth doing anything about. Because, next time it just might be your "superior" phone OS that is targeted. But don't worry, I won't trivialize it when that inevitably happens; my ego needs no stroking.

Reply Parent Score: 1

glarepate Member since:
2006-01-04

I don't feel bad for choosing this phone, in fact it's the best smartphone I've owned since 2006.


And given that the text string that causes this failure may never be released to the public there is every chance that this bug may never hit your phone.

Will I still be an asshole if nothing bad happens to you? Even though it could? (o;)

But hey, it must be all about you right?


Yup. 'Cause I didn't care if you got bit by a bug that may never exist in the wild.

But don't worry, I won't trivialize it when that inevitably happens;...


Why would I worry about that? Even if it really did happen in spite of your thoughtfulness and consideration for me (or whoever).

Actually it's perfectly OK if you do. You are entitled to think and say whatever you want. The restrictions on those things only apply to me, remember? Because I'm baaaaaaad. Somehow.

Reply Parent Score: 3

Morgan Member since:
2005-06-29

Yup. 'Cause I didn't care if you got bit by a bug that may never exist in the wild.


No, it was quite obvious in your original post that you were trying to speak for the rest of the world by saying it was a trivial issue that wasn't newsworthy because you say so. I felt otherwise and said as much, and you went apeshit and tried to make it personal.


Actually it's perfectly OK if you do. You are entitled to think and say whatever you want. The restrictions on those things only apply to me, remember? Because I'm baaaaaaad. Somehow.


Hey bud, I just replied in kind when you went off on an arcane tangent. Believe me, it's not personal. I'm just a sucker and an easy target for Internet trolls.

Though I must say, I have not before run into the kind of extreme passive-aggressiveness you have displayed here, putting deprecating words into my mouth constantly and trying to make it appear as if I'm running ad hominem attacks on you. Stay classy, my friend.

Reply Parent Score: 1