IT Security Stack Exchange
IT Security Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [phone]

A telephone, or phone, is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are not in the same vicinity of each other to be heard directly.

A telephone, or phone, is a telecommunications device that permits two or more users to conduct a conversation when they are not in the same vicinity of each other to be heard directly.

First patented in 1876 by Alexander Graham Bell and further developed by many others, the telephone was the first device in history that enabled people to talk directly with each other across large distances. Telephones became rapidly indispensable to businesses, government, and households, and are today some of the most widely used small appliances.

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How hard is it to intercept SMS (two-factor authentication)?

A lot of two-factor authentication mechanisms use SMS to deliver single-use passphrase to the user. So how secure is it? Is it hard to intercept the SMS message containing the passphrase? Do mobile networks use any kind of encryption on SMS? I found…
Paul Podlipensky
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Does hanging up on a UK landline call not terminate the connection?

AgeUK (and others) warn about making phone calls directly after receiving a scam call and advise you to "wait for the line to clear": Use a different phone if you can, or wait 5 to 10 minutes after the cold call if using the same phone - just in…
Matt Zeunert
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Can phone apps read my clipboard?

Via Hacker News, I came across a Tweet implying that Facebook's iOS app routinely reads and transmits all content from the user's pasteboard. Leaving aside whether Facebook's app genuinely does this (which is a separate question), is this possible?…
Mark Amery
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Charging someone else's cell phone in my car

A sketchy looking person walked up to my car the other day while I was parking and asked if he could charge his cell phone in my car and offered to pay me $5. I didn't allow him to charge his phone in my car of course, but it made me wonder if there…
courtney
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If someone asks to borrow your phone to make a call, what could they do?

A stranger walks up to you on the street. They say they lost their phone and need to make a phone call (has happened to me twice, and maybe to you). What's the worst a phone call could do? Let's assume they don't run, don't plug any devices into the…
Andy Ray
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Is a 'dumbphone' mobile more secure for basic phone calls than a smartphone?

By dumbphone I mean: no internet connection, very limited features, etc. By more secure I mean: secure from malicious and direct hacking. I don't mean as in protected from government tapping/snooping; I don't mean from authorities who could be…
infinite-etcetera
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Is sending passwords through cellphone text messages secure?

Both the sender and the receiver deleted the text after it was sent, but is it still possible that it exists somewhere and that someone can get to it?
Rachel
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How would two people with burner phones communicate?

According to Edward Snowden in this tweet... Phones used in real-world ops are disposed on a per-action, or per-call basis. Lifetimes of minutes, hours. Not days. Let's imagine for a moment that I'm Jason Bourne. I've stopped by the kiosk in…
Roger Lipscombe
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How can caller ID be faked?

My late brother was contacted by someone on landline number operated by a carrier in Australia and which displayed on caller ID. I traced the number to a company and though they did call him on a number of occasions from this number over a couple of…
stumped
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Are phone calls on a GSM network encrypted?

When I make a call on my cellphone (on a GSM network), is it encrypted?
Ram Rachum
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"This used to be my phone number"

I added a new phone line and someone called claiming to be the previous owner of the phone number. He requested that I forward information a text message (He wanted me to forward 2 Factor Authentication information that would be sent to my new…
gatorback
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Bring your own phone to a (new) job: Consequences?

I am starting a new job, and I have the choice to receive a phone from the company, or to bring my own. I am considering using my own phone, to avoid having an extra device, but I want to better understand the consequences of that decision. I have…
aliteralmind
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Someone called someone else with my phone number

Sequence of events: I didn't touch my phone all day (at work, busy day, know it didn't even come out of my pocket, but was on). 5:20pm I get a call by a guy asking me who I am and why I called him at 2pm. Tell him I didn't call him. Immediately…
VSO
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Is it dangerous to call spam phone numbers, even if you know they're spammers?

I sometimes like to check spam just to see how the messages look like, and I found someone who actually put an American phone number (1-XXX-XXX-XXXX). Most of these spammers are either trying to get money out of you, or hack you in ways like…
John K
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What is preventing us from sniffing the mobile phone communication?

I'm learning wireless penetration testing. It really is amazing. But it made me wonder, what about mobile phones? They are also means of wireless communication. So, our entire voice must be in the air surrounding us. So, What makes it difficult to…
claws
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