Items tagged with sim
It seems as though we can't escape a single week without hearing about a new widespread security exploit that puts us all at risk. This week, the newly detailed attack taking center stage is called Simjacker, and it was revealed by the folks at AdaptiveMobile Security. As its name implies, Simjacker works primarily by exploiting the SIM cards that all of our smartphone use. As the researchers explain it, this new exploit represents a "huge jump in complexity and sophistication" in comparison to other attack vectors that have propagated over mobile networks. Although Simjacker is quite an intricately-executed exploit, we'll give you a brief overview of how it claims its victims. First of...
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Dutch SIM card maker Gemalto has been enduring unwanted media attention for the past few weeks after reports surfaced that Britain’s GCHQ and the United States’ NSA may have breached the company’s networks. Today, Gemalto released a statement acknowledging that an attack in 2010 was probably the work of the spy agencies, but denied that they now had access to the encryption keys for millions of SIM cards.“If we look back at the period covered by the documents from the NSA and GCHQ, we can confirm that we experienced many attacks,” the company said in a statement. “In particular, in 2010 and 2011, we detected two particularly sophisticated intrusions which could be related to the operation."GCHQBut...
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As we reported on late last week, the world's largest SIM card maker was broken into digitally as part of a joint operation between the United States' NSA and United Kingdom's GCHQ. The attack, which began back in 2010, gave these agencies unparalleled access to the global smartphone network, ultimately enabling them to decrypt and record phone data of virtually anyone they wanted. As a result of the news, Gemalto's stock took a 7.5% hit on Friday, something I considered to be unfortunate given it seemed very likely that any company could have suffered the same attack. If the world's biggest intelligence agencies want in, they'll unfortunately be quite successful. Nonetheless, Gemalto's outlook...
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Apple had good intentions by equipping its cellular-based iPad Air 2 and iPad mini 3 with SIM card options, thereby giving owners the flexibility to choose from a variety of short and long term data plans from different carriers. This can be especially handy if you're an international man (or woman) of mystery who frequently travels abroad. However, be advised that once you pair a SIM card with AT&T's network, you're stuck like glue. That little tidbit has been making its way around the web and is now confirmed in an Apple support document regarding cellular data plans and SIM cards. "Using Apple SIM, you can choose from different cellular carriers and their various programs. The data plans...
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At a time when drool-worthy superphones are hitting the market, there’s also a trend toward very affordable handsets, as well. Nokia has most definitely been working in the former space, but it hasn’t forgotten the latter. The Nokia 108, which is also available with dual-SIM, is designed for people getting their first camera phone and costs just $29. The phone features Nokia’s Slam technology for fast and easy content sharing via Bluetooth, up to 32GB of external memory, an integrated MP3 player, FM radio, alarms, a flashlight, and a 0.3MP camera (640x480) that shoots photos and video. The display is just 1.8 inches, but there’s a physical number keyboard. Nokia says that...
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As the weekend approaches and the itch to tinker with something crawls up the spine of nerds everywhere, open source hardware projects like this one scratch it like nothing else: There’s a card called an Arduino GSM Shield available now, which essentially lets you add GPRS/GSM connections to your projects. In other words, you can build your own unlocked phone with it. The device can be shipped along with Arduino’s Uno, MEGA, and Leonardo boards, and the GSM Shield itself comes with a SIM card. (You can, however, use whatever SIM card you like.) With the shield, you can implement features such as making and receiving phone calls and sending and receiving SMS messages. The shield is...
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Looks like GameStop isn't the only oddball getting into the wireless service game. Lenovo, a company closely linked to pro-grade ThinkPad laptops and software suites, is the next in line. Yes, really. The company today announced Lenovo Mobile Access, a contract-free mobile broadband service that provides pre-connected, always-on, customizable connectivity to the Internet and corporate networks. It's powered by a platform cooked up by Macheen, Inc., and is now embedded across select models of the ThinkPad product line and available immediately in the United States and nine European countries. Users can snag a "Time Pass" for as little as $1.95 for 30 minutes, or $8.95 for one day. Users with more...
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In technology, stuff gets smaller. Mobile phones are no exception--just look at the evolution from the Zach Morris brick to Will Ferrell’s tiny cell phone--but today, mobile phone technology took another tiny step forward with the approval of a new, smaller form factor SIM card. French standards body ETSI approved the fourth form factor (4FF) SIM card, which is 40% smaller than the SIM card currently in your phone, measuring just 12.3 x 8.8mm, with a thickness of 0.62mm. The new form factor will be backwards compatible with older SIM cards with a little creative packaging, and the functionality won’t actually change. Image credit: The Verge In a press release, the company stated:...
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SIM cards are pretty small. The Micro-SIM within the iPhone 4 and iPad is even smaller. But is there a need to go even smaller? One could argue that you could never actually have an electronic component that's small enough; the world of tech is constantly evolving, and having smaller SIM cards would allow for smaller phones in the future. A Reuters report suggests that Apple has already "proposed" a standard SIM card size that's smaller than the ones already in use, and that's according to an Orange executive. Orange is a cellular provider in France, so the rumor definitely has some legs. The European telecoms standards body (ETSI) also confirmed the report, but work on the project had yet to...
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You may recall the "Off the Air" Apple ad, which reminded consumers that if necessary, a Mac Genius at an Apple store could transfer their files from their PC to a Mac for them. After all, the ad said, "fear of switching is the foundation of customer loyalty for PCs." Well, now Belkin is adding fuel to the fire with a cable that purportedly eases the transfer of files and settings from XP or Vista to a Mac. Ironically, in 2006, Microsoft touted a cable from Belkin that helped move from XP to Vista, and even gave away the cables as part of its CES press kits. The new cable, the Belkin Switch-to-Mac Cable has an MSRP of $49.99 and reportedly: ... provides a simple way to transfer files, settings,...
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Creating 3D maps and worlds can be extremely labor intensive and time consuming. And ultimately the final result might not survive the close scrutiny of those expecting real-world emulations. A new technique developed by scientists at The University of Manchester's School of Computer Science and Dolby Canada, however, might make capturing depth and textures for 3D surfaces as simple as shooting two pictures with a digital camera--one with flash and one without. Credit: NewScientist.com For a high-level description of the technique, here is the abstract from a presentation given about it during the "Perception & Hallucination " session from SIGGRAPH earlier this month: "A Perceptually Validated...
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The Electronic Arts (EA) game most people are focused on right now is Spore, which ships Sept. 7th. But there's this other game some may recall, which was also designed by that Will Wright guy: The Sims. And on Wednesday, EA announced at the Leipzig Games Convention that The Sims 3 will be available at retailers worldwide and also via digital download on February 20th, 2009.In their press release, EA said:The feature-set includes a new seamless, open neighborhood, new Create-a-Sim, new unique personality traits, new unlimited customization and new gameplay that's quick and rewarding.The Sims 3 Collector's Edition will also be in stores on February 20, 2009. The Sims 3 Collector's Edition will...
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E-Trade is offering its account holders a free application for their BlackBerry smartphones that allows them to get real-time stock information and execute trades on their phones. Now if you're walking down the street in a big city and see executives throwing themselves out of the windows of some skyscraper, you can read the name on the building, launch your E-Trade account and key in "Sell Mortimer! Sell!"High-end phone users have for a while been able to access E-Trade's Web site and those of most banks and brokerages, but the online firm is the first major U.S. brokerage to provide a mobile application with cash transfers and real-time quotes.Online trading through the free application, called...
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AMD GAME! Enables Console-like Simplicity for Mainstream PCs- For the 263 million mainstream PC gamers worldwide, AMD GAME! standsfor exhilarating HD gaming experiences with full PC functionality-SUNNYVALE, Calif. - May 19, 2008 - From the company powering the visual experience of the two most popular gaming consoles in the world today, AMD (NYSE: AMD) announces AMD GAME!. This program is designed to help consumers select perfectly suited PCs for high-definition gaming. AMD GAME! platforms combine the powerful balance of multi-core processors, exceptional HD digital media , and next-generation graphics processing power. Industry leaders including Acer, Alienware, Logitech and Microsoft...
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