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You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

blog.coinbase.com

21–28 of 28 posts

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#21

Serious question: How many of you actually use SMS applications, besides texting people? For example, Wells Fargo keeps telling me I can bank over SMS. But why would I do that versus using their mobile site? Or is this just for "downmarket" folks?

There are people who use it in the first world, but yes the killer app is in the developing world. Smart phone penetration in India for example is about 3%. Even in the U.S. it is about 45% I think from when I last checked.

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#23

Serious question: How many of you actually use SMS applications, besides texting people? For example, Wells Fargo keeps telling me I can bank over SMS. But why would I do that versus using their mobile site? Or is this just for "downmarket" folks?

I use SMS frequently for banking and Twitter. I could easily afford a data plan or smartphone, but they would have little value to me.

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#24

Pay With Bits has been doing this since late April... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyhkiz8BSCM http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/28/pay-with-bits-wants-to-be-t... http://paywithbits.com/

Checked out site, but they don't seem to be "up" - just requesting signups for a beta.

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#25
post #7
post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Spoofing the SMS on the request is easy (only policy at operators prevents it). You do need to intercept the incoming call, but you can trivially do that ith call forwarding, or more impressively do it with network or local handset exploits.

We've tried to make it as secure as possible. The idea is that the pin is only sent over the call. So the hacker would need to listen in to your call in order to steal your pin. So they basically need to hack your SMS and your voice calls. How else can we make this more secure? As for publishing your phone number so that you can receive bitcoins, you can publish your secondary phone numbers. We only allow you to use…

Just wanted to say, nice work and thanks for keeping focus on security (there can never be enough...) Maybe allow the option of 2 factor auth (google auth, Authy etc.) which would be entered in on any balance-affecting transaction? (The only issue with 2 factor auth is that now limits you to smartphones pretty much, and the promise of a text message interface seems ideal for dumbphones...)

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#26
post #4

Wow, this is simultaneously really cool from a usability perspective, but terrifying from a security perspective. A non changing PIN sent over cleartext (encrypted by "speech"). I guess there is plenty of room for security on the backend. It is more than fine for casual uses, but a serious user who publishes his phone number (payment address) would be subject to a really cheap attack by anyone who can look at his pho…

What about requiring a 2 factor auth from the likes of Google Auth or Authy https://www.authy.com/ ?

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#27
post #4

Wow, this is simultaneously really cool from a usability perspective, but terrifying from a security perspective. A non changing PIN sent over cleartext (encrypted by "speech"). I guess there is plenty of room for security on the backend. It is more than fine for casual uses, but a serious user who publishes his phone number (payment address) would be subject to a really cheap attack by anyone who can look at his pho…

What about requiring a 2 factor auth from the likes of Google Auth or Authy https://www.authy.com/ ?

Most people use their phone as 2-factor. So if a thief has your phone, 2-factor with a phone is pointless.

Re: You can now perform all basic actions in Bitcoin through SMS

#28
post #22

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F4qzPbcFiA Although it's a pretty cool idea, I was under the impression that the entire basis of a crypto currency was to keep anonymity...

Everyone defines for himself what's the point of Bitcoin is.

For some it's anonymity. For others it's cheap way to pay for stuff. Or only possible way (if CC are not working in your country). Or an wealth storage vehicle and protection against inflation. Or vote against USD and wars. Or a tax evasion tool.

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