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Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

cnn.com

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Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#71

Post by fc417fc802 »

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #66

Disabling alerts is the second thing I do to a new handset (after rooting) - including Presidential alerts. The Amber alerts I got were often hundreds of miles away. But even if they were closer - say only 25 mi away, I'm still not going to be any help. Weather alerts weren't much better. Having my device sound the klaxons over Red Flag warnings conditioned me to ignore all alerts.

While I understand how we arrived at this point I find these centralized systems with special privileges frustrating. That they have repeatedly exhibited severe vulnerabilities and mismanagement is just the cherry on top.

There ought to be a specification of an open protocol that includes certificate based authentication. I should be able to have my pick of which app to use and then subscribe to whatever feeds I'm interested in from anywhere in the world. In addition the local network operator should advertise various local feeds.

What I'm describing is about as technically complicated as RSS plus public keys but as usual even moderate technical competency is a bridge too far for the government.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#72

Post by fc417fc802 »

woodruffw wrote: post #27
jpablo wrote: post #26

The power to send mass messages to a whole country is the worst thing google/apple have given to governments across the world.

This implies that governments didn’t already have this ability, which appears to be largely untrue? To my understanding, many countries already had emergency messaging systems, and mobile integrations are just a way of modernizing them. (It seems exceedingly good that the government can warn every civilian about natural disasters, etc.)

Governments had poorly thought out poorly secured barely functional systems involving the network operators and those were then integrated with default system apps that have terrible UX without fixing any of the problems AFAICT. Agreed that it's clearly necessary functionality but it's worse than useless when it's so far proven to be (at absolute best) a constant stream of irrelevant alarms.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#73

Post by initramfs »

mkl wrote: post #64
initramfs wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for highlighting the even earlier term from 1963. If that is the case, then why don't journalists use the word "computer intruder" instead of hacker, when it's less a catchall? The funny thing about these comments is that most of the replies to my comment have been more defensive than my own. I wasn't suggesting a monopoly on the term, and I wasn't suggesting "hacker" shouldn't be ever be used. I just said it'…

I think you misunderstood. The 1963 term is "hacker", and its 1963 meaning is "computer intruder". I.e. the journalists are using the earlier definition and the definition referred to by "Hacker News" came later.

Ah, I see now that journos were referring to the older definition of hacker. I suppose newer interpretations have a ways to go in gaining acceptance, though I am not sure why the phrase hacker/cracker is even used, when other words could be used too, like tamperer (for intrusion) and tinkerer (for non-builder/non-intruder (i.e. on their own equipment, or a lab's equipment, and learner). Kind of like the phrase "me and the gang," although that word might never gain a total conversion, nor should.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#74

Post by fc417fc802 »

alpinisme wrote: post #52
jpablo wrote: post #26

The power to send mass messages to a whole country is the worst thing google/apple have given to governments across the world.

If you say so. In the meantime I’ll continue to appreciate the occasional tornado warning.

I've yet to receive one of those that was useful. Meanwhile the 70+ year old storm sirens mounted on the nearby office buildings work perfectly in my experience, being audible even indoors from many miles away.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#75

Post by alister »

WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #66

Disabling alerts is the second thing I do to a new handset (after rooting) - including Presidential alerts. The Amber alerts I got were often hundreds of miles away. But even if they were closer - say only 25 mi away, I'm still not going to be any help. Weather alerts weren't much better. Having my device sound the klaxons over Red Flag warnings conditioned me to ignore all alerts.

> Disabling alerts is the second thing I do to a new handset

Except you can't in Canada. The Canadian government has made the alerts mandatory. The option to disable alerts in not present in settings menu (at least on iPhones).

You can disable alerts in Brazil. So in one sense, Brazil is more free than Canada.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#76

Post by vesche »

initramfs wrote: post #38

"The message sent was of the ‘Extreme Alert’ type and contained the word ‘misanthropy’ – which means hatred towards humanity. It is probably a hacker attack,” the agency’s statement said." As this happens whenever there is an intrusion reported in the press, the word "hacker" is often misused: "There is another group of people who loudly call themselves hackers, but aren't. These are people (mainly adolescent males)…

No one has used the word “hacker” with this esoteric / old school context in over 30 years.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#77

Post by gucci-on-fleek »

alister wrote: post #75
WarOnPrivacy wrote: post #66

Disabling alerts is the second thing I do to a new handset (after rooting) - including Presidential alerts. The Amber alerts I got were often hundreds of miles away. But even if they were closer - say only 25 mi away, I'm still not going to be any help. Weather alerts weren't much better. Having my device sound the klaxons over Red Flag warnings conditioned me to ignore all alerts.

> Disabling alerts is the second thing I do to a new handset Except you can't in Canada. The Canadian government has made the alerts mandatory. The option to disable alerts in not present in settings menu (at least on iPhones). You can disable alerts in Brazil. So in one sense, Brazil is more free than Canada.

> The Canadian government has made the alerts mandatory. The option to disable alerts in not present in settings menu (at least on iPhones).

I'm Canadian too, and I'm able to toggle all the options off on my Android phone, it just does absolutely nothing and all the alerts still come through.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#78

Post by hollerith »

vesche wrote: post #76
initramfs wrote: post #38

"The message sent was of the ‘Extreme Alert’ type and contained the word ‘misanthropy’ – which means hatred towards humanity. It is probably a hacker attack,” the agency’s statement said." As this happens whenever there is an intrusion reported in the press, the word "hacker" is often misused: "There is another group of people who loudly call themselves hackers, but aren't. These are people (mainly adolescent males)…

No one has used the word “hacker” with this esoteric / old school context in over 30 years.

The name of the site you are writing this on is a usage of this "esoteric" meaning.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#79

Post by vesche »

hollerith wrote: post #78
vesche wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No one has used the word “hacker” with this esoteric / old school context in over 30 years.

The name of the site you are writing this on is a usage of this "esoteric" meaning.

It was an intentional, near-archaic throwback even at the time HN was founded. Paul Graham has written about it, you can probably still find his blog written about it 20 years ago.

Re: Unauthorized alert sent to cell phones across Brazil

#80

Post by paulddraper »

Kyselica wrote: post #10
neko_ranger wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

lets play a game HN, what would be the best alert to send? mine would be something scifi, like "ALIENS HAVE LANDED" or "PLUTO DECLARES WAR"

“BRAZIL ELIMINATED FROM WORLD CUP”

BRAZIL DISQUALIFIED FRKM WORLD CUP
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