The power to send mass messages to a whole country is the worst thing google/apple have given to governments across the world.
woodruffw 3 minutes ago [-]
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.)
throwaway81523 22 minutes ago [-]
There was a Larry Niven story where if you tried to call a certain guy, every phone in South America would ring instead. Anyone remember which story it was? The phone thing was just a throwaway line, not a significant plot point.
p0w3n3d 17 minutes ago [-]
It might have been the Ringworld
"Well?"Nessus began to pace the floor. "Many disqualify themselves by obvious bad luck. Of the rest, none seem to be available. When we call, they are out. When we call back, the phone computer gives us a bad connection. When we ask for any member of the Brandt family, every phone in South America rings. There have been complaints. It is very frustrating."
“When we call, they are out. When we call back, the phone computer gives us a bad connection. When we ask for any member of the Brandt family, every phone in South America rings.”
p0w3n3d 15 minutes ago [-]
TBH phones in Poland allow to call you "from" an arbitrary number (i.e. display it on your phone). Also send SMS with arbitrary source.
This is being used by scammers who call you and tell they are from police bank etc
lxgr 12 minutes ago [-]
This works in many countries, since the signalling protocols historically assumed a trusted small set of participants, not unlike email – with similar consequences once those assumptions became less and less true.
mseepgood 1 hours ago [-]
Of all the messages they could have sent they chose the most boring.
neko_ranger 54 minutes ago [-]
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"
tetha 23 minutes ago [-]
The world needs more confusing positivity.
"You are beautiful and wonderful - keep going! (unlike this systems security)"
Any of the Sims 1 prank phone calls would be amazing
shagie 15 minutes ago [-]
I got a new job! from seank
lysace 18 minutes ago [-]
Most dangerous one:
"This is Army Commander Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva. We have chosen to take command of the country to protect you against serious crimes against the people that we have become aware of. Remain calm and continue with your daily duties."
(Except in Brazilian Portuguese.)
marcosdumay 3 minutes ago [-]
Scary stuff.
I guess so scary that there isn't a single person willing to try it. But yeah, that is the most dangerous one possible.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/mistaken-pickering-on...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Hawaii_false_missile_aler...
Ok, hackers got blamed for this one: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/apr/09/dallas-hacke...
(It seems exceedingly good that the government can warn every civilian about natural disasters, etc.)
"Well?"Nessus began to pace the floor. "Many disqualify themselves by obvious bad luck. Of the rest, none seem to be available. When we call, they are out. When we call back, the phone computer gives us a bad connection. When we ask for any member of the Brandt family, every phone in South America rings. There have been complaints. It is very frustrating."
https://www.naneahoffman.com/the-blog/shelf-care-alien-archi...
This is being used by scammers who call you and tell they are from police bank etc
mine would be something scifi, like "ALIENS HAVE LANDED" or "PLUTO DECLARES WAR"
"You are beautiful and wonderful - keep going! (unlike this systems security)"
0: https://classic.battle.net/war3/cheatcodes.shtml
"This is Army Commander Tomás Miguel Ribeiro Paiva. We have chosen to take command of the country to protect you against serious crimes against the people that we have become aware of. Remain calm and continue with your daily duties."
(Except in Brazilian Portuguese.)
I guess so scary that there isn't a single person willing to try it. But yeah, that is the most dangerous one possible.