Comments on: Emergency Call Security Flaw Persists in iPhone 2.1 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/ For people who dare to Phone Different. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:13:36 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: scottb http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15562 scottb Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:06:31 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15562 <p>My BB has an option to make calls. It is allowed via policy pushed by the BES (BB enterprise server) Since I don't have it with me - the iPhone is my new default - I can't say if there are limitations. My recollection is no, but as with all software, certainly that would be possible - and preferable, I will agree. I just think calling this a bug is misleading, and I can't seem to get Jeremy to change that. This is by design. Calling it a flaw asserts a bug to most people, which we know it's not.</p> <p>You can also set policies with the iPhones using the "iPhone Configuration Utility" I will look to see if there's a way to limit using this utility later on today. I'm going back to the Pitt/Phil game now :)</p> <p>Cheers</p> My BB has an option to make calls. It is allowed via policy pushed by the BES (BB enterprise server) Since I don’t have it with me – the iPhone is my new default – I can’t say if there are limitations. My recollection is no, but as with all software, certainly that would be possible – and preferable, I will agree. I just think calling this a bug is misleading, and I can’t seem to get Jeremy to change that. This is by design. Calling it a flaw asserts a bug to most people, which we know it’s not.

You can also set policies with the iPhones using the “iPhone Configuration Utility” I will look to see if there’s a way to limit using this utility later on today. I’m going back to the Pitt/Phil game now :)

Cheers

]]> By: Richard http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15553 Richard Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:13:01 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15553 <p>I'm not sure if you read my post correctly. I did not call everyone who defends Apple a "Kool Aid" drinker. (spelling correction noted) Just the ones who still maintain there was no bug when Apple themselves said there was and who will defend Apple against ANY critism.. I don't know if Blackberry allows ALL calls or not. Never had one. BUT if it does, and I used one I would be saying the same thing at the Blackberry forums. </p> <p>I'm glad you don't defend Apple regardless of the situation but there those that do. </p> <p>BTW. Does your Blackberry allow you to make calls to any number when locked? Or just selected ones? Is there an option to disable that? Like I said I've never used BB. I currently have a 3G and used WM prior to this.</p> I’m not sure if you read my post correctly. I did not call everyone who defends Apple a “Kool Aid” drinker. (spelling correction noted) Just the ones who still maintain there was no bug when Apple themselves said there was and who will defend Apple against ANY critism.. I don’t know if Blackberry allows ALL calls or not. Never had one. BUT if it does, and I used one I would be saying the same thing at the Blackberry forums.

I’m glad you don’t defend Apple regardless of the situation but there those that do.

BTW. Does your Blackberry allow you to make calls to any number when locked? Or just selected ones? Is there an option to disable that? Like I said I’ve never used BB. I currently have a 3G and used WM prior to this.

]]> By: scottb http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15549 scottb Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:11:37 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15549 <p>This is unreal. I'm a "Kool Aid" drinker now? My *ss. My Blackberry allows me to make calls on a locked phone too. Where's the outrage? You anti-Apple "Kool Aid" mainliners need to get a life. I called the pre-2.1 problem a legit flaw - it was. This ability to make an emergency call is probably wanted by a majority of owners. Would it be BETTER if you could customize that? Sure. Send Apple feedback. Given the evolution of the software, it's not unlikely.</p> <p>As for THIS SITE separating the two issues - one is a bug, the other, depending on the person, is bad design or not.</p> <p>Two completely different issues. Enough of the juvenile name-calling here.</p> <p>If I defend Apple - and sometimes I do, sometimes I don't - I'm not a drinker, I'm a thinker. Do the same.</p> This is unreal. I’m a “Kool Aid” drinker now? My *ss. My Blackberry allows me to make calls on a locked phone too. Where’s the outrage? You anti-Apple “Kool Aid” mainliners need to get a life. I called the pre-2.1 problem a legit flaw – it was. This ability to make an emergency call is probably wanted by a majority of owners. Would it be BETTER if you could customize that? Sure. Send Apple feedback. Given the evolution of the software, it’s not unlikely.

As for THIS SITE separating the two issues – one is a bug, the other, depending on the person, is bad design or not.

Two completely different issues. Enough of the juvenile name-calling here.

If I defend Apple – and sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t – I’m not a drinker, I’m a thinker. Do the same.

]]> By: Richard http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15535 Richard Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:02:41 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15535 <p>Ed, if you lock your phone and hand it to me... do you feel I should be able to dial an international phone number? This is the question at hand. NO ONE said it should only be able to call 911. Just not ALL numbers.</p> Ed, if you lock your phone and hand it to me… do you feel I should be able to dial an international phone number? This is the question at hand. NO ONE said it should only be able to call 911. Just not ALL numbers.

]]> By: Jeremy Sikora http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15534 Jeremy Sikora Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:51:38 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15534 <p>@Ed, we understand that. And that really has no bearing on the fact that Apple has left the phone WIDE open to make any call to ANYONE even though the phone is locked. None what so ever.</p> @Ed, we understand that. And that really has no bearing on the fact that Apple has left the phone WIDE open to make any call to ANYONE even though the phone is locked. None what so ever.

]]> By: Ed http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15533 Ed Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:48:19 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15533 <p>911 is not the only emergency number in the world. US is NOT the entire World.</p> 911 is not the only emergency number in the world. US is NOT the entire World.

]]> By: Richard http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15531 Richard Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:16:53 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15531 <p>Why are you guy so bent on defending Apple and saying there was no bug? THEY admitted IT was a security flaw prior to 2.1. So Apple admits to a flaw and you guys are still blind and saying it's just the way the phone is. No wonder people call you guys fanboy cool-aid drinkers. </p> <p>Apple is just like any other company. They make mistakes and their priority is to make money. Steve is not your friend or god. He is a CEO. His job discription is clear. Maximize shareholder returns and revenue. </p> <p>Anyhow, this article is about how the lock feature does not truly lock the phone. Not the APPLE ADMITTED bug. </p> <p>It's not exactly a phone lock if any schome can grab my phone and start making calls. Take a survey. Just implement a fricken customizable ICE list. Most new phones have that now. It should be easy.</p> Why are you guy so bent on defending Apple and saying there was no bug? THEY admitted IT was a security flaw prior to 2.1. So Apple admits to a flaw and you guys are still blind and saying it’s just the way the phone is. No wonder people call you guys fanboy cool-aid drinkers.

Apple is just like any other company. They make mistakes and their priority is to make money. Steve is not your friend or god. He is a CEO. His job discription is clear. Maximize shareholder returns and revenue.

Anyhow, this article is about how the lock feature does not truly lock the phone. Not the APPLE ADMITTED bug.

It’s not exactly a phone lock if any schome can grab my phone and start making calls. Take a survey. Just implement a fricken customizable ICE list. Most new phones have that now. It should be easy.

]]> By: Jeremy Sikora http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15516 Jeremy Sikora Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:37:07 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15516 <p>@Alex, I'm sorry you have a problem. First of all this article was not about the previous bug that Apple admitted to regarding being able to access the contacts, web and mail. So you saying that was neither a flaw or feature makes no sense what so ever. Apple admitted it was a bug and they fixed it in the latest firmware. So I'm not sure where you are coming from regarding that.</p> <p>http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/08/29/apple-speaks-security-fix-firmware-coming-in-september/</p> <p>As you can see Apple themselves called it a security flaw and that = bug in my opinion.</p> <p>Regardless, the article that I wrote here is about being able to place a call to any number while the phone is locked not the bug they did fix. Sorry if you were confused.</p> @Alex, I’m sorry you have a problem. First of all this article was not about the previous bug that Apple admitted to regarding being able to access the contacts, web and mail. So you saying that was neither a flaw or feature makes no sense what so ever. Apple admitted it was a bug and they fixed it in the latest firmware. So I’m not sure where you are coming from regarding that.

http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/08/29/apple-speaks-security-fix-firmware-coming-in-september/

As you can see Apple themselves called it a security flaw and that = bug in my opinion.

Regardless, the article that I wrote here is about being able to place a call to any number while the phone is locked not the bug they did fix. Sorry if you were confused.

]]> By: Alex http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15512 Alex Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:08:42 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15512 <p>This is neither a flaw, nor a feature. It's simply the way the phone was designed and being able to access the contacts, web and mail is simply a byproduct of that design. </p> <p>The fact that you can disable this behavior by turning on a setting (albeit it, indirectly of another lock setting) in settings alone shows its not a flaw.</p> <p>I have a big problem with blogs posting this as a flaw however. They use the same tactics newspapers do to rile up readers and cause panic over nothing. "Oh my god, my iphone can be hacked." "Oh my god, my iphone has a huge security flaw" and so on. A reader who might not have heard of this before or just started to read a blog they never read before that had this sort of material would most certainly construe it this way among other readers who just aren't educated enough to make this discerption. Take some of the comments so far as examples.</p> <p>You should know better. You can get just as many readers implementing other tactics.</p> This is neither a flaw, nor a feature. It’s simply the way the phone was designed and being able to access the contacts, web and mail is simply a byproduct of that design.

The fact that you can disable this behavior by turning on a setting (albeit it, indirectly of another lock setting) in settings alone shows its not a flaw.

I have a big problem with blogs posting this as a flaw however. They use the same tactics newspapers do to rile up readers and cause panic over nothing. “Oh my god, my iphone can be hacked.” “Oh my god, my iphone has a huge security flaw” and so on. A reader who might not have heard of this before or just started to read a blog they never read before that had this sort of material would most certainly construe it this way among other readers who just aren’t educated enough to make this discerption. Take some of the comments so far as examples.

You should know better. You can get just as many readers implementing other tactics.

]]> By: Richard http://www.theiphoneblog.com/2008/09/19/security-flaw-revealed-in-21/comment-page-1/#comment-15490 Richard Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:52:55 +0000 http://www.theiphoneblog.com/?p=4509#comment-15490 <p>If I lock my phone, I want it locked. If Apple wants to allow a number other than 911 than why not allow an list of ICE (in case of emergency) numbers that you can customize. This way, no one can start making international calls or toll calls. </p> <p>Give me a choice. If you allow me to lock my phone and it doesn't LOCK... its a problem to me and I'd bet a large number of people. </p> <p>Geez, it's just hard to believe people can be so devoted to a company and drink the cool-aid. Apple can and do make mistakes.</p> If I lock my phone, I want it locked. If Apple wants to allow a number other than 911 than why not allow an list of ICE (in case of emergency) numbers that you can customize. This way, no one can start making international calls or toll calls.

Give me a choice. If you allow me to lock my phone and it doesn’t LOCK… its a problem to me and I’d bet a large number of people.

Geez, it’s just hard to believe people can be so devoted to a company and drink the cool-aid. Apple can and do make mistakes.

]]>