Interestingly enough, my research assistant and I are working on a research paper on this very subject right now.
On Thu, Apr 10, 2008 at 7:12 AM, Richard M. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Just imagine what will happen when a group of 15-year old kids spam out > 10,000 text messages to cellphones in the 212 area code saying that a > cropduster anthrax attack is in progress and everyone should leave Manhattan > at once....... > > Part of the problem here is that text messages can be sent in > bulk to cellphones via email gateways. An email address for a cellphone > is very predicatable since it is the same as phone number of the cellphone. > A prankster can send out a fake alert to all phones in single cellphone > exchange with very little effort. > > Richard > > > http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/10/washington/10alert.html?_r=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print > > April 10, 2008 > Text Alerts to Cellphones in Emergency Are Approved By THE ASSOCIATED > PRESS > > WASHINGTON<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/usstatesterritoriesandpossessions/washingtondc/index.html?inline=nyt-geo>(AP) > — Federal regulators approved a plan on Wednesday to create a > nationwide emergency alert system using text messages delivered to > cellphones. > > Text messages have exploded in popularity, particularly among young > people. The trade group for the wireless industry, CTIA, estimates more than > 48 billion text messages are sent each month. > > The plan stems from the Warning Alert and Response Network Act, a 2006 > federal law that requires upgrades to the emergency alert system. The act > requires the Federal Communications > Commission<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/f/federal_communications_commission/index.html?inline=nyt-org>to > develop ways to alert the public about emergencies. > > "The ability to deliver accurate and timely warnings and alerts through > cellphones and other mobile services is an important next step in our > efforts to help ensure that the American public has the information they > need to take action to protect themselves and their families prior to, and > during, disasters and other emergencies," the commission chairman, Kevin J. > Martin, said after the plan was approved. > > Carriers' participation in the system, which has strong support from the > industry, is voluntary. > > Cellphone customers would be able to opt out of the program. They also may > not be charged for receiving alerts. > > There would be three types of messages, according to the rules. > > The first would be a national alert from the president, probably involving > a terrorist attack or natural disaster. > > The second would involve "imminent threats" that could include natural > disasters like > hurricanes<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/h/hurricanes_and_tropical_storms/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier>, > tornadoes or university shootings. > > The third would be reserved for child abductions, so-called Amber alerts. > > The alerts would be delivered with a unique audio signature or "vibration > cadence." > > The service could be in place by 2010. > > _______________________________________________ > Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. > https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec > Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list. >
_______________________________________________ Fun and Misc security discussion for OT posts. https://linuxbox.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/funsec Note: funsec is a public and open mailing list.
