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Ready, Aim, HACK!

KD5YPT writes "According to a story on Wired, Adam Laurie and Martin Herfurt demonstrated that they can hack a Bluetooth enabled phone from up to a mile away using a sniper rifle with yagi antenna. Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'."

277 comments

  1. Time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What kind of time do these people have to try these kinds of ridiculous "tests?"

    1. Re:Time by EvilCabbage · · Score: 2, Funny

      What kind of time do these people have to try these kinds of ridiculous "tests?"

      What else are they going to do with their time once they get kicked out of their parents basements?

  2. Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Now all the people that hack Counter-Strike will be out on the streets with Snipers hacking Bluetooth devices, leaving CS hack-free. Thank god.

    1. Re:Great by druhol · · Score: 1

      I doubt they'd do very well, though, unless the BlueSniper comes with an aimbot.

      --
      WWD4D?
    2. Re:Great by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 1
      Until they are shot on sight by police because they look like terrorists pointing sniper rifles at people on cell-phones.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    3. Re:Great by SpecBear · · Score: 1

      Nah, this won't catch on until somebody codes an aimbot that works in real life.

  3. So? by Zorilla · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm not impressed. If you really want to impress me, use a Cap'n Crunch whistle over a Bluetooth-enabled phone to switch your neighbor's TV to the Spice channel with the volume up to 50.

    Fun.

    --

    It would be cool if it didn't suck.
    1. Re:So? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only someone would be kind enough to do that for me...

    2. Re:So? by jaavaaguru · · Score: 1

      Why would you "rent a movie from your local adult store then try to get excited watching Spice" ?
      Especially if you think Spice sucks.

    3. Re:So? by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

      I probably should have used the words 'rather then' instead of just 'then'.

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    4. Re:So? by Ianoo · · Score: 1

      No, I think you should learn to spell "than" rather than use the word "then".

    5. Re:So? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, but one could switch channels on houses up to 1000 feet away with an IR lasertag rifle, with a 2" lens for the IR led and a 4x scope.

    6. Re:So? by smooth+wombat · · Score: 1

      I'll use the typical Slashdot excuse for my misspelling:

      You knew what I meant.

      There, now I fit in like everyone else who can't figure out the word is "you're" rather than "your" or uses 'their' instead of 'there' (or vice versa).

      --
      We will bankrupt ourselves in the vain search for absolute security. -- Dwight D. Eisenhower
    7. Re:So? by trentblase · · Score: 1

      Actually in this case I don't think it was clear what you were saying. However, your right about you're other example you mentioned their.

    8. Re:So? by jaavaaguru · · Score: 1

      Nice one :-)

      Although, in context, you could work out what he meant. It's just that one sentence by itself that didn't make sense.

  4. Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by strictnein · · Score: 4, Funny

    Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'.

    What, so instead of "Fucking tool" it now will mean "Fucking tool who's in jail for aiming a sniper rifle at someone"?

    1. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by justkarl · · Score: 5, Funny

      What, so instead of "Fucking tool" it now will mean "Fucking tool who's in jail for aiming a sniper rifle at someone"?

      True.
      Do you think that cops would arrest you first for
      a: hacking or
      b: carrying around a F'n sniper rifle?

      "No, officer, I swear I wasn't shooting anybody, I was just trying to hack their phone!"

    2. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      It's not a rifle. The damn thing doesn't have a trigger, magazine, or even a goddamned barrel. It's just an antenna taped onto a stock with a scope mounted on it.

      You're just as likely to get arrested for carrying a squirtgun.

    3. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by XemonerdX · · Score: 0

      No sniper rifles were used, RTFA.

    4. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      RTFA... it's not a sniper rifle.

      People who don't read the article should be modded down into oblivion...

    5. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What, so instead of "Fucking tool" it now will mean "Fucking tool who's in jail for aiming a sniper rifle at someone"?

      Same as 'strictnein' means idiot who did did not read the fucking article. mod parent down.

    6. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 0

      Like that kid who got shot because of his realistic looking toy gun?

      If it looks like a weapon, or like it could be used as a weapon... The police are going to want to talk to you.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    7. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by still+cynical · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Do you really think you wouldn't go to jail for aiming that thing at someone? The police don't care if it's not a real rifle, the same as they wouldn't care if you aimed a realistic looking squirtgun at someone on the highway. As far as they're concerned, if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, you're threatening someone with a duck.

      --
      Ignorance is the root of all evil.
    8. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You've got to be kidding!!!!!!!!! how is this funny? The idiot did not even take the time to click on the article before articulating a kharma whoring response. What are the mods doing here, rewarding laziness? I smell abuse, someone meta-moderate this.

    9. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Jahf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The beauty of the sniper rig is that you're not SUPPOSED to be -seen-.

      Besides, if you can do this with a sniper rifle, you can do it with gear that looks like a telephoto rig. While it won't look less suspicious, it will appear less malicious.

      --
      It is more productive to voice thoughtful opinions (reply) than to judge (moderate) others.
    10. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Ignorant+Aardvark · · Score: 2, Informative

      You've got to be kidding!!!!!!!!! how is this funny? The idiot did not even take the time to click on the article before articulating a kharma whoring response. What are the mods doing here, rewarding laziness? I smell abuse, someone meta-moderate this.

      You don't gain karma for a Funny mod.

    11. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by dr_dank · · Score: 1

      The police don't care if it's not a real rifle, the same as they wouldn't care if you aimed a realistic looking squirtgun at someone on the highway.

      Very true. Most states use the "resonable person" test for this. If the reasonable person would think that it's a weapon, then it is prosecuted as such. This is why guys who stick up 7-11s with toy guns still get still get charged with armed robbery.

      --
      Where does the school board find them and why do they keep sending them to ME?
    12. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by d474 · · Score: 5, Funny
      They should turn this rifle into a head mounted unit with a Large parabolic dish attached to the top.

      That would result in:
      1. 1) You would get laughed at by police instead of shot

      2. 2) Nerd factor points increase in orders of magnitude
      --
      Authority questions you. Return the favor.
    13. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by TheLetterPsy · · Score: 1

      I have to somewhat agree with the parent. Maybe not with their actually statement, but seriously . . . how does this give new meaning to 1337 h4x0r2? If you can explain it to me, I'll give you a cookie.

    14. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by luigi22_ · · Score: 1

      If I wanted to, I could use my bare hands as weapons. Don't tell me the police have some sort of law against that.

      --
      On /., first you get the karma, then you get the power, then you get the women.
    15. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by chimpo13 · · Score: 1

      Bad example that the article starts out with (typical media crap that makes the kid seem like it's just a high school prank). It starts with a story about an kid brandishing a BB gun to rob people. He robbed an off-duty cop with it so the cop's partner shot & killed the kid. There's better examples of cops killing people with fake guns later in the article. But that first kid had to know if the gun looks real enough to rob someone, that someone might think it was a real enough to shoot him over.

      There's pictures of the geek's gun in the Wired article, and it looks pretty sci-fi. Not even as "intimidating" as a paint ball gun. If someone got shot over that gun, it'd be an overreaction. Although right or wrong, the geek would still be shot. If he goes out with it, he'd attract less possible fatal attraction in a Star Wars costume. He might get beat up by some jocks, but the cops wouldn't shoot him.

    16. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good God!

      Mod this up as widely halarious!

      The image this brings to mind is funny as hell.

    17. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by cccpkgb · · Score: 1

      This is more fun than toothing! I can already see it catching on in busy subways around the world.

    18. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Put the duck down and step away slowly.

    19. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by grawk · · Score: 1

      I'd ugess it depends on what country you're in. In most of the united states, carrying around an Fn sniper rifle is perfectly legal.

    20. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'd ugess it depends on what country you're in. In most of the united states, carrying around an Fn sniper rifle is perfectly legal.

      True. However, I think most law enforcement would classify aiming something that looks like an Fn sniper rifle at people, cars, and buildings as "suspecious behavior".

    21. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thankfully, my tin-foil hat already protects me from these mind-altering radio waves.

    22. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And people who post the same freaking "RTFA" comment without reading the 50 previous "RTFA" comments should also be mod'ed down. Besides, it is against /. tradition to RTFA before posting -- doing so limits the creative process and spoils all the fun! Facist freaking moron.

    23. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by fubar1971 · · Score: 1

      How about if we just paint the end of it hunter safety orange. Then it will look like a toy.

    24. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by chucks86 · · Score: 1

      I'm pretty sure that if you punched a cop that you'd be in some trouble...

      --
      Help a poor college student. Send a couple cents via paypal to chucks86@gmail.com
    25. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by King_TJ · · Score: 1

      Not to mention, even after they figure out what you're really trying to do with it, you're still left doing some serious explaining. I don't think a lame excuse like "My phone wasn't getting good enough reception, so I'm trying to bounce my call off another phone with a better antenna!" is gonna cut it....

      (I guess they should be glad my 2 year old daughter has no say in things. She still thinks my stuffed Tux penguin is a duck, and most birds in my lawn get called "duck!" too.)

    26. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by digitalgiblet · · Score: 1
      "...if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, you're threatening someone with a duck."

      A guy threatened me with a duck once. ONCE!

    27. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 2, Interesting
      " Do you really think you wouldn't go to jail for aiming that thing at someone?"

      You're right, they might shoot first and ask questions later.

      Any moron who actually does this in public deserves the Darwin award they get.

      --
      Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    28. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by thrash242 · · Score: 1

      A) It's not really a rifle. The headline is misleading. RTFA.

      B) It is not illegal (here in Texas and in most of the states) to carry around a rifle with a scope. This is not even really a rifle.

      Now if you're seen pointing it at people, you might get some police at the very least asking WTF is going on, at the worst, you might get shot. Explaining that you're a "hax0r" probably won't help. But it's probably not a good idea after the sniper attacks a while ago to be visibly pointing a rifle-like object at people on cell-phones. (or not)

    29. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      Actually... you can. By law, if you're either in military or have martial art training, when you attack someone bare handed they can charge you with assault with a lethal weapon.

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    30. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

      It's like there're elite snipers picking people off. Now these two twisted change the sniper into a hacking tool, elite hackers with a military twist.

      If its bad, I'm sorry.

      --
      In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
    31. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by AJWM · · Score: 1

      In most of the united states, carrying around an Fn sniper rifle is perfectly legal.

      No, most FN (Fabrique Nationale d' Armes du Guerre, Belgian company) rifles fall under the prohibition on assault rifles and other scary-looking weapons.

      (Sorry, I'll go away now...)

      (I used to have an FN (-C1A1, 7.62mm NATO). I had to give it back when I left the army.)

      --
      -- Alastair
    32. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by luigi22_ · · Score: 1

      What I meant was that there's no law against carrying your bare hands around.

      --
      On /., first you get the karma, then you get the power, then you get the women.
    33. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by fataugie · · Score: 1

      Unless you're a convicted theif in Saudi Arabia

      --

      WTF? Over?

    34. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by plover · · Score: 2, Insightful
      At least in The United States of Ashcroft you'd only be charged with attempted murder for pointing a sniper-rifle-looking thing at someone.

      If you were to point a camera at someone instead, you'd be arrested for "casing a national security threat" and held indefinitely without bail until they decided to execute you.

      --
      John
    35. Re:Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'. by Eisenfaust · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A funny old guy at my work told me a story that reminds me of this a lot.

      I guess when he was young, President Truman came through town. I'm not exactly sure of his motives but he probably didn't have access to a TV at this time. Anyway.... When the president's motorcaid got within reasonable distance from his house he grabbed his dads rifle and ran up to the roof of the house. He then proceeded to point the rifle at the president as his car passed by serval blocks away. Of couse his intention was to look through the high magnification scope to get close glimspe of the president. He lived in Independence Missiouri, Truman's home town. It seems like a stupid thing to do, but apparently the idea of seeing such a hometown hero was more than enough to blur his judgement.

      Its funny how things with very innocent intention can be viewed as something totally different. Its also scary to think what might happen if a kid tried something like this today.

      --
      Grrrrr... don't bother me, I'm thinking.
  5. guns.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If I saw a guy pointing a gun at me from far away (or close), I wouldn't be worried about him taking my contacts out of my phone.

    1. Re:guns.. by bje2 · · Score: 1

      read the article...it's not an actual rifle!

      --

      "Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true." - Homer Simpson
    2. Re:guns.. by Chess_the_cat · · Score: 1
      read the article...it's not an actual rifle!

      Read the grandparent. It looks like one from far away.

      --
      Support the First Amendment. Read at -1
    3. Re:guns.. by AviLazar · · Score: 1

      Hell the Choate Ruger Mini-14 stock is used in actual guns. If I was a cop and I saw someone pointing this thing at someone, I would shoot first find out the answers later - and too bad for the geek who was dumb enough to walk around with one of these.
      Now if I happend to see someone pointing one of these at me (and no real sniper would get seen, but we are talking geeks not snipers) I would run so fast, in such a chaotic zig zag that you would think i was froggart on crack.

      --

      I mod down so you can mod up. Your welcome.
    4. Re:guns.. by NanoGator · · Score: 1

      "If I saw a guy pointing a gun at me from far away (or close), I wouldn't be worried about him taking my contacts out of my phone."

      Come to think of it, guns are a rather impressive hacking tool. I'm gonna go next door and hack my neighbor's porn stash.

      --
      "Derp de derp."
    5. Re:guns.. by Lodragandraoidh · · Score: 1

      If I saw a guy pointing a gun at me from far away...

      If someone is 1 mile away - with your naked eye -

      a) You are not going to be able to tell what they are holding/pointing if you do notice them at all.
      b) You probably won't be able to see them at that distance, or if you do, distinctly as a seperate person from the background - particularly if they are in foliage, in a crowd of other people, or hidden inside of a building.

      A mile is about 1609 meters; the longest successful sniping on record (by a team of Canadian soldiers in Afganistan) is about 2200 meters. If someone is pointing this thing at you from a mile or more away, you aren't going to see it.

      --

      Lodragan Draoidh
      The more you explain it, the more I don't understand it. - Mark Twain
    6. Re:guns.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Well, good thing you're not a cop.

      The FBI and the local police arrest each other all too frequently when they're both investigating a drug ring.

      Nuts like you who would "shoot first and find out the answers later" would end up killing a lot of good people, including friends.

  6. Camping bastards... by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 4, Funny

    Now in real life too. Too bad you can't toss the occasional opportunistic grenade like in Half Life.

    --
    "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
    1. Re:Camping bastards... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you can. simply cary a EMP pulse generator... every once in a while transmit a nice EMP pulse that their high gain antenna will amplify for you and make their laptop bite them.

    2. Re:Camping bastards... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Too bad you can't toss the occasional opportunistic grenade like in Half Life.

      Simple laws never stopped me before. ;)

      - Seth

    3. Re:Camping bastards... by stienman · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I don't know about that. If you design and place a very powerful 2.4GHz emitter so it goes right up their Yagi, then I bet you could damage the receiver electronics of the bluetooth device they're using.

      Kind of like sticking a carrot in the gun barrel and letting them blow it up themselves.

      At least these are active attacks - you should be able to honeypot it very easily, or at the minimum detect attacks, and jam them if needed.

      -Adam

    4. Re:Camping bastards... by sploo22 · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...so it goes right up their Yagi

      Wow. That's a euphemism I've never heard before.

      --
      Karma: Segmentation fault (tried to dereference a null post)
    5. Re:Camping bastards... by FuzzyBad-Mofo · · Score: 1

      If you design and place a very powerful 2.4GHz emitter

      Yeah, good thing the FCC doesn't care about people using powerful homemade UHF transmitters. Oh that's right, they do.

    6. Re:Camping bastards... by Fulcrum+of+Evil · · Score: 1

      Kind of like sticking a carrot in the gun barrel and letting them blow it up themselves.

      Except that, if you actually did that, you'd just make a mess of the carrot.

      --
      "We returned the General to El Salvador, or maybe Guatemala, it's difficult to tell from 10,000 feet"
  7. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    RTFA, this sniper rifle is NOT a weapon.

  8. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Todays question would be "WHY???"

  9. Sweet by TheSexican · · Score: 5, Funny

    No more paying for those pricey 900 numbers... I'll just hack some poor schmuck's phone and whack o..err... talk for free.

    --
    Hey, guys. Big gulps, huh? Cool. All right! Well, see ya later.
  10. It would be interesting... by AcquaCow · · Score: 4, Interesting

    to use this same setup to look down into a city and pick up individual wireless networks.

    War Sniping?

    --

    up 12 days, 22:30, 2 users, load averages: 993.20, 994.21, 994.56
    *makes note to limit user processes...
    1. Re:It would be interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      War Sniping?

      As opposed to "peace sniping"?

    2. Re:It would be interesting... by mfender9 · · Score: 0, Funny

      So pretty soon, kids will look at pictures of the soldiers in Iraq and think they're just trying to access each other's networks...

    3. Re:It would be interesting... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      myg0t A!mbot War sniper

      even leet neighbors won't have a chance

    4. Re:It would be interesting... by garcia · · Score: 2, Funny

      My wireless network is fucking bulletproof. I have a monk standing guard.

    5. Re:It would be interesting... by sinkywinky · · Score: 1

      You'd have to explain the pile of microwaved birds below your window, though

  11. DefCon? Anyone? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There were pictures of this device on the DefCon
    webpage posted just yesturday.

    It's just mounted on a sniper rifle-like device,
    it's not an actual gun :P

    Yay, Free Flat Screens!

  12. Re:Ugg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    The sand color for this topic sucks. My eyes are burning.

    Remove the "it." from the beginning of the web address and press enter. You'll get the nice green back.

  13. Re:Sniper rifle?! by rvw14 · · Score: 5, Informative

    After I RTFA, I found that a sniper rifle was not used

    The BlueSniper "rifle," created by John Hering and colleagues at Flexilis as a proof-of-concept device, resembles a rifle. It has a vision scope and a yagi antenna with a cable that runs to a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or PDA in a backpack.

  14. Yeah, Except... by JamieKitson · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that you have to call the guy at the other end and ask him to stand very very still :)

    1. Re:Yeah, Except... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just mention you have a sniper rifle pointed at him with a convincing bad guy voice. If he moves you shoot.

    2. Re:Yeah, Except... by d474 · · Score: 1

      If you're serious about that, just hire some cute girl to talk to the target for 3 minutes. But, this is /. so whose serious, right?

      --
      Authority questions you. Return the favor.
    3. Re:Yeah, Except... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem is the convulsions that targets undergo when talking to "cute" members of the opposite sex. :0

    4. Re:Yeah, Except... by Idarubicin · · Score: 1
      ...that you have to call the guy at the other end and ask him to stand very very still :)

      He might be able to recognize your voice. The really nerdly thing to do would be to send the guy a text message from himself, telling him to stand still.

      --
      ~Idarubicin
    5. Re:Yeah, Except... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...that you have to call the guy at the other end and ask him to stand very very still :)

      Have them stand inside a phone booth?

      "And don't you hang up, either!"

    6. Re:Yeah, Except... by fubar1971 · · Score: 1

      But, this is /. so whose serious, right?

      Don't you mean...

      But, this is /. we don't know any cute girls

  15. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Daoenti · · Score: 0, Redundant
    Even though it's been said... if you actually read you'll see the following:
    The BlueSniper "rifle," created by John Hering and colleagues at Flexilis as a proof-of-concept device, resembles a rifle. It has a vision scope and a yagi antenna with a cable that runs to a Bluetooth-enabled laptop or PDA in a backpack. Aiming the rifle from an 11th-floor window of the Aladdin hotel at a taxi stand across the street in Las Vegas, Hering and colleagues were able to collect phone books from 300 Bluetooth devices. They bested that distance and broke a record this week by attacking a Nokia 3610i phone 1.1 miles away and grabbing the phone book and text messages."
    Now why someone thought it necessary to call it a 'sniper rifle' when they submitted the article is beyond me since it's at the very least misleading.
  16. They should paint that thing orange by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    ... or something to make it look like a toy. They're going to have real guns pointed at them if they keep carrying that around, and I'd say anyone that shoots back would be entirely justified.

    1. Re:They should paint that thing orange by Mateito · · Score: 1

      Only a slashdotter would coordinate a BLUEtooth with and ORANGE gun.

      Why not go for LIME GREEN socks and PURPLE sandles to really make a fashion statement.

  17. Re:hrrm by nkntr · · Score: 1

    Adding on, you would have to secure the directional antenna to the side of the rifle (a friend of mine asked me how a rifle would help after reading my post.. I thought I would clarify). That way when you have the phone in your crosshairs, the antenna is also pointed directly at the phone....

  18. Re:Sniper rifle?! by nmk · · Score: 1

    The scope and the rifle are already calibrated. If you use a stand alone scope, where exactly will you fit the antenna. I actually think its pretty cool. Wonder what their defense would be if they got caught pointing the rifle at someone.

  19. add virus? by mrak018 · · Score: 0

    Is there a possibility to create a virus exploiting that bug and start spreading?

  20. L33t? by Lethyos · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2'.

    Uhm, no, not really. Not at all.

    --
    Why bother.
  21. Can there be buildings between? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is this a direct line of sight thing?

    1. Re:Can there be buildings between? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yagi si pretty much line of sight. Objects in the way cause a huge degradation in signal and aften make a unidirectional antenna better.

      Also, with a yagi antenna you best be right on where you aim it. A feew degrees also causes a huge signal degridation.

    2. Re:Can there be buildings between? by wastingtape · · Score: 0

      According to the article yesterday on Tom's Hardware , there were picking up signals of people indoors through the walls.

  22. that's why by eoyount · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That's why you should turn bluetooth off when you're not using it.

    Is there really any need to have bluetooth turned on all the time? I would think that it just wastes batteries.

    --
    To understand recursion,
    you must first understand recursion.
    1. Re:that's why by XSforMe · · Score: 1

      Is there really any need to have bluetooth turned on all the time?

      Only if you live in the UK.

      --
      My other OS is the MCP!
    2. Re:that's why by whorfin · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Toothing is why you leave it on. I would have figured that /. of all places would be all over this one.

      --
      Laugh while you can, monkey-boy!
    3. Re:that's why by JawFunk · · Score: 1

      I have been using the t616 since it came out a yea ago, by far the best phone I ever owned. Having bluetooth on wil only drain your batteries, and you receive random advertisements from phone co.'s and misc. online services on mMode. There is no point to leaving it on until you are transferring your phonebook, sending images, or in class, waiting to battle someone else in mini-golf!

      --
      [Please sign here]
    4. Re:that's why by baudilus · · Score: 1

      I know a guy here at my job who has a bluetooth phone, and uses his bluetooth PDA to dial from it, without taking the phone out of his pocket. People who use this functionality (I'd imagine) would have to have bluetooth on, or it defeats the whole purpose of dialing from the PDA - if you can take it out of your pocket to turn on bluetooth, you can dial whoever you need to call.

    5. Re:that's why by dwillden · · Score: 1
      That and with my bluetooth headset and voice dialing I don't have to touch my phone, to answer or make a call.

      And so what if it drains the batteries a little faster. I have to plug it in every three days instead of every four.

      Of course I don't have any sensitive info on my phone.

      And as to using the phone as a bug, the technology is out there to do that with any wireless phone out there. Without using any fancy bluetooth hacking to do it either. The phone doesn't even need to be on. If you want security with a wireless, you take the battery out.

      --
      I'm too lazy to compose a creative sig.
    6. Re:that's why by lidocaineus · · Score: 1

      Uh, mmode and bluetooth are completely different. You will still receive push stuff from AT&T with bluetooth off.

    7. Re:that's why by the+pickle · · Score: 2, Funny

      No way, man. Most of /. doesn't even know what sex *is*...

      p

    8. Re:that's why by JawFunk · · Score: 1

      I realize this. But there are firms that use bluetooth to transmit ads that otherwise would not be receivd. Turn it on, try it sometimes.

      --
      [Please sign here]
    9. Re:that's why by lidocaineus · · Score: 1

      That's bluejacking, and it's not very prevalent anywhere I've been in NYC, LA, or Chicago (where I live)... and I travel to those cities a ton. Coworkers in London say it happens, but that it's barely above background noise (ie, once every 6 months if that).

      This is however your sentence:
      Having bluetooth on wil only drain your batteries, and you receive random advertisements from phone co.'s and misc. online services on mMode.

      Either you are saying mmode=bluetooth (obviously not), or you need to put together sentence a little more coherently.

  23. I didn't realize that ... by burgburgburg · · Score: 2, Funny
    Microsoft's security division designed bluetooth phones.

    Learn something new every day.

    1. Re:I didn't realize that ... by Mateito · · Score: 1

      I didn't realise that Microsoft's security division designed anything.

      After all, they are part of the Marketting department.

    2. Re:I didn't realize that ... by mrchaotica · · Score: 1

      Microsoft has a security division??!?!

      --

      "[Regarding the 'cloud,'] ownership was what made America different than Russia." -- Woz

  24. Re:Sniper rifle?! by mirko · · Score: 1

    Because Eric Raymond told that both hackers and rifles are cool, so it's better to conjugate these ;)

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  25. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Tenebrious1 · · Score: 3, Informative

    The BlueSniper "rifle," created by John Hering and colleagues at Flexilis as a proof-of-concept device, resembles a rifle.

    How much does it resemble a rifle? People get shot here in NYC when wallets and candy bars get mistaken for weapons...

    --
    -- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
  26. Re:Ugg by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    try this one http://goatse.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=117011& cid=9899055

  27. Dupe by Jacco+de+Leeuw · · Score: 4, Informative

    You're right, here are the pictures.

    --
    -------
    Warning: Slashdot may contain traces of nuts.
    1. Re:Dupe by asink · · Score: 1

      I think the guy is still hungover. There is something that really does look like a sniper rifle, and I think that's what they were _trying_ to talk about. There's that wierd looking thing, and the tripod'ed sniper rifle. The sniper rifle looking thing looked freakin cool, hopefully there will be a 'dupe' of the intended article.

      --
      "Hex, Bugs, and Rockn'Roll"
    2. Re:Dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Offtopic!? Mods are missed out. Did you read the article? If so then you appernlty missed the Ghost Buster refrence for the rifle.

    3. Re:Dupe by grassy_knoll · · Score: 1

      Wow. Looks like he's using either a SKS replacement stock to mount the yagi antenna

      Picture here

  28. Actual software? by o0zi · · Score: 1

    So where do people who are looking for this sort of capability on their laptops get the software from?

    1. Re:Actual software? by Garion+Maki · · Score: 1

      they make it themselfs...
      acording to the article, the original purpose of the software isn't always what they curently do with it, yust that they noticed that they could do more.

      --
      All indicators show that the human race is selectively breeding itself for stupidity.
    2. Re:Actual software? by sh0knah · · Score: 1

      I understand we'll see this kind of capability in Longhorn...

  29. Sensible design for its purpose by Glendale2x · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The "rifle" design with a scope actually makes sense. If there's a moving target at a decent enough distance, all you have to do it keep them in the sights while you communicate with the device. Otherwise, a yagi on a stick without sights is probably a little harder to aim precisely, especially if your target is far away.

    --
    this is my sig
    1. Re:Sensible design for its purpose by baudilus · · Score: 1

      It would also be really cool if you could plant a pre-determined bug from the laptop with a squeeze of the rifle trigger.

      1) Look through rifle sight and find vulnerable phone
      2) Pull trigger to plant bug (to whatever end)
      3) ???
      4) Profit?

    2. Re:Sensible design for its purpose by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      According to the video interview on Tom's site, the yagi antenna used has a beamwidth of 30 degrees. That's pretty wide, so the need to aim "precisely" is not a large one.

      Of course, that also means that with a better (i.e., narrower beamwidth) yagi antenna, you can snoop at even greater distances that those that have been mentioned. However it would be more difficult to follow a moving target with a narrower beamwidth.

    3. Re:Sensible design for its purpose by raytracer · · Score: 2, Informative

      The "rifle" design with a scope actually makes sense. If there's a moving target at a decent enough distance, all you have to do it keep them in the sights while you communicate with the device. Otherwise, a yagi on a stick without sights is probably a little harder to aim precisely, especially if your target is far away. Well, it doesn't make that much sense. A 14dbi Yagi has a beamwidth of about 30 degrees or so. A 4x sniper scope probably has a field of 10 degrees or so, an 8x scope, more like 7 degrees. You simply don't need to aim it that accurately. A simple peep sight would work just fine, and probably draw less attention.

    4. Re:Sensible design for its purpose by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, a yagi on a stick mounted on a collapsible, rotating tripod would be a better design, but the Gordon Freeman look is in these days, apparently...

  30. More info by AngryScot · · Score: 5, Informative
    Here

    Was covered in brief on tomshardware in a post on /. yestarday

    --

    All spelling mistakes are due to solar flares...honest

  31. It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by millisa · · Score: 4, Informative

    It isn't a real sniper rifle It'd still make someone nervous if it was pointed at them I imagine . . .

    1. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It'd still make someone nervous if it was pointed at them I imagine .

      Um, I believe the idea is that the someone does not know that the rifle is pointed at them.

    2. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by Agent+Green · · Score: 1

      Actually, it sounds like a mighty fine way to get shot...granted moreso in some locales than others perhaps.

      --
      // Agent Green (Ian / IU7 / KB1JQO)
      // IEEE 802.3: All 10base Are Belong To Us
    3. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by danuary · · Score: 1
      ...Aiming the rifle from an 11th-floor window of the Aladdin hotel at a taxi stand across the street in Las Vegas...


      Sure, but given the prevailing climate of fear in the United States these days I would say that leaining out a hotel window aiming something that looks like a BIG GUN at passers-by is a textbook example of a very bad idea.

    4. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by AbbyNormal · · Score: 1

      Not the HAMMER! God NO! What will they think of next???

      Someone have another picture?

      --
      Sig it.
    5. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by RobertB-DC · · Score: 1

      They've just got image poaching turned off. Go here. Scroll down (possibly to the pixellated hammer image) and hit refresh if needed. It looks surprisingly cool.

      As far as the hammer... I'm sure it would work just fine as a close-range, permanent DoS tool.

      --
      Stressed? Me? Of course not. Stress is what a rubber band feels before it breaks, silly.
    6. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by Atryn · · Score: 1

      These guys came in from Germany??? How did they get that through TSA? I guess it probably wasn't a "carry-on"...

      --
      Come play Moral Decay!
    7. Re:It looks nifty, but its not a sniper rifle by shish · · Score: 1

      You call that a sniper rifle? THIS is a sniper rifle!

      *brandishes hammer*

      --
      I mod down anyone who says "I will be modded down for this", regardless of the rest of their comment
  32. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is not a rifle, it is a rifle stock with a scope and antenna which resembles a rifle.

    Scopes do not come "already calibrated" to the rifle. Each person holds a rifle differently (cheek weld, etc.) and so each rifle (with normal sights or a scope) must be sighted in to that specific person.

    To my knowledge, there is no law anywhere that makes it illegal to point an antenna at someone. So, they do not require any defense to prosecution...

  33. Luddites Rejoice by ackthpt · · Score: 3, Funny
    According to a story on Wired, Adam Laurie and Martin Herfurt demonstrated that they can hack a Bluetooth enabled phone from up to a mile away using a sniper rifle with yagi antenna.

    Surviving the 21st century:

    Pencil

    Pocket knife

    Pad of paper

    Water bottle
    &

    Towel

    BTW the Hitchhikers Guide is now considered a bad idea, as even it has proven to be hackable, particularly by those who consider themselves to be hoopy froods (though inaccurate entries may be inserted, and attempts to modify the operating system of all versions of the Guide result in the brief appearance of a hungry ravenous bugblatter beast of Traal, followed shortly by the departure of a not quite as hungry ravenous bugblatter beast of Traal.)

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  34. Interesting Military Application by Vexler · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If deployed in the field, special ops soldiers can approach a terrorist safehouse, and activate this device to hack into any cell phone that may be vulnerable. Then they could simply listen in on the safehouse without ever being even 500 feet away, and can discern their movement if necessary.

    All this translates into being able not to tip off the bad guys that you are coming, and still able to glean important intel.

    1. Re:Interesting Military Application by Asprin · · Score: 1


      ...except that in about ten years, the sms kiddies of today will be in the military and terrorists will get stuff like:

      OMG! U R B-ing h@X0ReD!!1!11! We R listen 2 U!!111oneone!!!one!eleven!! USA R0X0r2! U SuX0r2!

      Something tells me they are going to notice.

      --
      "Lawyers are for sucks."
      - Doug McKenzie
    2. Re:Interesting Military Application by prospero14 · · Score: 1

      If deployed in the field, special ops soldiers can approach a terrorist safehouse, and activate this device to hack into any cell phone that may be vulnerable. Then they could simply listen in on the safehouse without ever being even 500 feet away, and can discern their movement if necessary.

      Instead of putting troops at risk on the ground trying to hack an individual phone, our intelligence community can just intercept the communication once it reaches a cell tower or satilite. Indeed, intercepted phone messages are a mainstay of the US government's signals intelligence program.

      By the time special forces are there on the ground, they aren't going to be using their rifles for hacking.

    3. Re:Interesting Military Application by Vexler · · Score: 1

      No, that's not what I mean (and if I put it poorly, it is my fault).

      I understand the value of sigintel. What I was trying to point out was the device's tactical value. The ability to turn on the phone without the owner noticing, essentially using the phone to monitor the room, would help special ops make last-minute or on-the-scene decisions. What if you hear an unexpected voice in the safehouse, and that person's being there suddenly changes the situation? What if you learn that there are suddenly hostages involved? What if there are explicit mentions of CBW (chemical-biological weapons) located inside the safehouse? etc. etc.

    4. Re:Interesting Military Application by lachlan76 · · Score: 1

      Because with the giant antenna-rifle you don't need to wait for a phone-call.

  35. Re:Sniper rifle?! by nine-times · · Score: 4, Informative
    Now why someone thought it necessary to call it a 'sniper rifle' when they submitted the article is beyond me since it's at the very least misleading.

    It actually makes a lot of sense, no? The device resembles a rifle- not just out of some "cool" factor, but because use of the device requires aim, and the rifle form is suitable. It also has metaphorical relation to the rifle, in that it's a "weapon of attack", so to speak. Further, insofar as the attack is a long range attack from a concealed location, it makes a certain amount of sense to call it "sniping".

    So, insofar as it lead to you believe people were firing bullets through a sniper rifle as a means to hack cell-phones, yes, it was misleading. However, I think it was only intended to draw the obvious metaphorical comparison between what these guys were doing and what a sniper does.

  36. Re:Sniper rifle?! by LuxFX · · Score: 2, Informative

    How much does it resemble a rifle?

    From even a moderate distance, very closely. I think part of it is simply the stance, the way it's held. But it's also colored like a rifle, the same length as a rifle, and has a similar handle on one end. It's very convincing. Actually aiming the thing, and pointing it at somebody, would be more than enough to create some seriously panicked people.

    Concept is cool, but anybody that uses this thing in public would be in serious danger of being shot by a SWAT team.

    --
    Punctanym: alternate spelling of words using punctuation or numerals in place of some or all of its letters; see 'leet'
  37. Yeah but then.... by dmorin · · Score: 2, Funny

    ...somebody tk'd them for hogging the AWP and being all sux0r with it.

  38. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Jorkapp · · Score: 1

    Hmm...

    * Rifles
    * Hacking
    * Vicious Camping

    Sounds to me like they played too much CS.

    --
    Frink: Nice try floyd, but you were designed for scrubbing, and scrubbing is what you shall do.
  39. Not really. A camera tripod would be better or .. by Libertarian_Geek · · Score: 2, Insightful

    A telescope or transit tripod. You're going to be a little obvious pointing any object that looks like a rifle at someone only 50' away. Especially in an urban area. I would also imagine that the weight is more than it needs to be, since the stock and grip are designed to resist the kick. It still gets "cool points" in my book though. Parhaps it would work out better to build a directional antenna within a telescope or transit, so as to be a little more inconspicuous.

    --

    www.facebook.com/DareDefendOurRights

    www.fairtax.org
  40. They missed something by tyrani · · Score: 2, Funny

    "The BlueSniper rifle for capturing data from Bluetooth-enabled phones is constructed from a Choate Ruger Mini-14 stock, 14dbi semi-directional Yagi antenna, standard rifle scope, electrical tape, zip ties and cardboard."

    They really should have used duct tape rather then electrical tape. It would have been much more Chic!

    --
    rejected (19) accepted (0)
    Is there a psychological term related to getting your stories rejected on slashdot?
  41. Kinda gives a new meaning to '1337 hAx0r2' by dwalsh · · Score: 1

    No, more like "C/\mp1ng 8a5tard!"

    --
    ${YEAR+1} is going to be the year of Linux on the desktop!
  42. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Obligatory european joke -

    Why did the french plant trees along the Champs-Elysées?

    So the Germans can march in the shade!

  43. Re:Sniper rifle?! by merlin_jim · · Score: 1, Informative

    I think you're going to be in trouble from Homeland Security, but not necessarily the regular police. You have a right to bear arms. While you can carry a rifle without a license in plain sight downtown (barring municipal codes), it's illegal to have a handgun in a safe at your home unless you're licensed, registered, and have passed a background check.

    But Homeland Security throws that out the window; any "terrorist activity", as they define it, is susceptible to their rules.

    One of the reasons why laws should be written as precisely as possible...

    --
    I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
  44. Blue War Walking....? by d474 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    He conducted a similar test at Britain's House of Parliament, carrying a laptop in his backpack. After going through security, he wandered the ground floor for 14 minutes looking at paintings and passing politicians while the attack ran automatically from his backpack. Of 46 Bluetooth devices he found, eight phones were vulnerable to attack.
    Using this hack in the 'research' stage of a social engineering attack would be quite useful. Between this and the photos of the blue tooth sniper rifle, why hasn't MI5 highered these guys? Honestly! The guy in the photo reminded me of 'Q' in James Bond. Brilliant work.
    --
    Authority questions you. Return the favor.
  45. reads the article, replies to self :-) by fantomas · · Score: 1

    serves me right, RTFA :-))) - Sniper-Geek-Boy is an Old European whose company lives in a Cold War Bunker... nuff said, maybe there is a pattern here. Maybe you guys can help him join the Army over there, our Army is getting cut back...

  46. Interesting Political Tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Makes a guy wonder how good the politicos are at securing their phones. Need to call a campaign manager directly? I'd bet a person could collect interesting phone numbers from a motorcade driving by. Not that that would be legal or ethical, of course. I'm merely postulating.

  47. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Ignorant+Aardvark · · Score: 1

    To my knowledge, there is no law anywhere that makes it illegal to point an antenna at someone. So, they do not require any defense to prosecution...

    Yeah, but if it's an antenna mounted on a rifle stock that looks a lot like a rifle, you could be shot (justifiably) by the cops in their self-defense. Hell, the cops have killed people holding toy guns or cell phones and gotten off. Something that is mounted on a rifle stock and looks a lot like a rifle is not something you'd want to be pointing at people or vehicles.

  48. Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by NineNine · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is yet another reason NOT to buy those stupid phones with 14 different features. Every time I buy a cell phone, I buy the cheapest one available, so it doesn't have all of this crap associated with it. I just want a cell phone that *works*. The last thing I want is a phone with so many useless features that it actually has *security* holes! That's insane. So if it comes to the point where the only phone I can get has this stupid Bluetooth stuff, then I have to worry about feds wiretapping me AND kids hacking in? Great. I'm going back to cans and string.

  49. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by proj_2501 · · Score: 1

    i'd imagine that it's pretty easy to sign up with the military and play with guns in any country.

  50. DOn't believe it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Redundant

    I believe almost none of this.
    I have a bluetooth phone and it simply won't do all those things. You *can't* just connect to it and make it bug you or relay your calls.

    Where is the evidence that any of this is even remotely true?

    1. Re:DOn't believe it by Stradenko · · Score: 1

      nokia admits that some of their phones are vulnerable to bluesnarfing.

      Security Focus also has some good information.

      or blue stumbler or bluejackQ might interest you.

    2. Re:DOn't believe it by xystren · · Score: 1

      Well, I read it on slashdot, it must be true...

      ---
      sig lines? We don't need no stinky sig lines.

    3. Re:DOn't believe it by bscience · · Score: 1

      I saw it in action at DEFCON. I know it's true.

  51. Other Bluetooth Devices by wayward · · Score: 1

    I wonder whether there are other Bluetooth devices that could be attacked this way. For example, it seems theoretically possible to also listen in on data transfers - say between PDAs or cameras and laptops.

    1. Re:Other Bluetooth Devices by Vexler · · Score: 1

      Perhaps. I personally would give a bottle of Scotch to the guy who could make the bad guy's PDA list "0300 - Prepare to meet Maker" on his calendar.

    2. Re:Other Bluetooth Devices by mrseigen · · Score: 1

      You could probably plant a suicide note of some kind. I wonder how that would be taken by the police, whether or not it would be official "evidence" to be considered because it's electronic.

  52. slashback? by bagofcrap · · Score: 1

    Now if only the hacker community could put together a convention of sorts to tell us about neat toys like this, they could call it deft-con or something like that; then cheesy hardware site employees could attend and say its for work (tax-deductible trip to vegas?)C'mon Wired, its only DEFCON12, you'd hope that converage of that event would be their leading story.
    Hmm... the linked article (i almost read it) didn't mention such an idea, only that the gun was tested in las vegas.

    This was in the (/. linked) tomshardware coverage of defcon 12
    on this page http://www.tomshardware.com/business/200408021/def con-05.html

    and a video http://www.tomshardware.com/business/200408021/ima ges/bluesniper.zip

  53. Re:Sniper rifle?! by thedillybar · · Score: 1
    >Wonder what their defense would be if they got caught pointing the rifle at someone.

    Umm, how about "It's an antenna, not a gun."

  54. That explains a lot. by Mr.+Bad+Example · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wondered why my phone's display kept changing to "OMG PWN3D U FAG". I thought it was Verizon getting uppity.

  55. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by bluekanoodle · · Score: 1
    Name one other easily portable form factor you could use to point a "stick" shaped object at a phone far away, while holding it steady and being able to follow the users movement with your eyes while tracking them with the end of "said" stick. It's pretty obvious why they chose a rifle form. It's definitely the most ergonomic option.

  56. No, it will mean... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..."fucking tool taking a dirt nap."

    You aim a gun in public at someone, and most urban police forces will just shoot you, since it will be presumed that you pose an immediate threat to someone's life.

    If you painted the fucking thing blaze orange, removed the bolt and trigger assembly (or some other suitable field-strip) and had the barrel obviously plugged, you'd get a chance to surrender. A run of the mill .30-06 will just get you plugged, with the PD Sportsman's Club gaining a new rifle.

  57. MODS, GET A LIFE. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Whoever isn't using mod points on this is dumb.

  58. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by ak3ldama · · Score: 1

    here's the funny part,
    many americans are skinny, quiet and still obsessed with guns. and the funnier part: we're almost all from europe, yea, and usually within 3 generations removed.
    i really wish all these europeans would quit being mad about all the people in america that were put up with all the european bulls***. just get over it, our ancestors thought it sucked.

    --
    "but money is the God of Algiers & Mahomet their prophet." - Rich. O'Bryen June 8th 1786
  59. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by rokzy · · Score: 2, Informative

    It surprises me how retarded people on a technology site can be.

    Do you avoid those stupid computers and just buy 4-function calculators to avoid all those viruses, trojans, spam and all the other crap associated with the internet and modern computing? I guess not.

    If you look closely, people being hax0r3d are almost always the ones who don't understand what they're doing.

    -Don't enable full read/write access to all files while using broadband without a firewall.
    -Don't leave bluetooth enabled when not using it.
    -Don't park your car with the keys in the ignition and the doors open.

    If any of the above didn't seem blatantly obvious to you, you are ignorant about the technology involved. Any problems you have are your own fault and do not make the technology bad.

  60. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Which jurisdiction please? That's not the law here in NC.

  61. Ignorant Users make this possible by JawFunk · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Laurie said most people don't think they have valuable data on their phones, but many people store passwords, PINs and financial account numbers in their phones.

    Where there's a will, there is a way. This is similar to the spam issue. Many arguethat spam would be reduced adn sys admins would have an easier life if curious people did not impulsively click on evrey ad that they see, nor respond to every question about income or dick size that landed in your email.

    In the caseof bluetooth, people need to realize that these are phones, not safes with locks. tThe average person takes data security for granted, because they don't understand or care to consider the functionality of the device or the technology they are carrying. "If it's in my pocket, it's safe." BS. If you can send signals with it, it can receive signals. Similarly, if you park your car for three days with the driver side door open, most likely it will not be there when you come back (Unless you live on an island where yours is one of five cars, easily recoverable). Getsmart people!

    --
    [Please sign here]
  62. In other news ... by cccpkgb · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some researchers found a way to completely destroy bluetooth-enabled cellphones from up to a mile away with a sniper rifle by failing to RTFA.

    1. Re:In other news ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you use the right rifle you can destroy a non-bluetooth device as well.

  63. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Pirow · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wonder what their defense would be if they got caught pointing the rifle at someone.
    Hopefully kevlar.

  64. Re:Sniper rifle?! by tehcyder · · Score: 3, Funny
    What about a "snooper rifle"?

    I thank you.

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  65. this should happen. by Uniball · · Score: 0

    s/symbian/debian/ig

  66. i'm suspect at the lack of details. by Lumpy · · Score: 1

    First off the gain of the antenna is quite low for a "1 mile away" hack. if they had a custom bi-directional amplifier that was not only a preamp on the incoming signals but bosting the transmit I would start to agree.

    I can also see 1 mile away with a dish antenna giving them more in the 25-30db gain range... espically considering that they are losing at least 3db in the cable it's self.

    It's a neat idea, and the close range (100-500 feet) possibilities with a basic directional antenna are certianly possible but not a full mile with what the article is talking about.

    Bluetooth makes 802.11b look like a commercial broadcaster in power differences. celphones are Class II bluetooth devices, the lowest power output level type. Class I has a 100 meter max range and would be a better device to attack from afar but certianly not a Class II BT device like a cellphone.

    Low gain and low directionality of their antenna are what makes me really ssupect their 1 mile claim.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:i'm suspect at the lack of details. by Rob+the+Bold · · Score: 1

      celphones are Class II bluetooth devices, the lowest power output level type
      Actually, there'e a Class III, with lower power yet. Nominal range is about 1m.

      --
      I am not a crackpot.
    2. Re:i'm suspect at the lack of details. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      almost all I have looked at are class II so the headset's will work in a vehicle. the class III 1 meter range would be barely useable for the headset on a person's belt let alone in a car where the phone can easily be 1.5 to 2 meters away.

    3. Re:i'm suspect at the lack of details. by carbolic · · Score: 4, Informative
      I was there - holding the Nokia out in front of me. TechTV was there filming the test from both sides. It will appear on The Screen Savers at some point.

      We used a high gain, 19dBi, panel antenna attached to a Linksys Class 1 Bluetooth adapter - picture.

      Using this equipment, last week we transferred a few pictures from 3300 feet (1 km). This week we bluesnarfed from about 5300 feet (1.08 miles).

      The whole point of these experiments is to show that Bluetooth can go a lot further than previously suspected. Witness the 55.1 mile link using 30 mw wifi.

      Lack of details is because it's in Wired News. Look for a writeup on www.wifi-toys.com later today.

      --
      Carbolic
      wifi-toys.com
      bluedriving.com

  67. Yeah, by Duhavid · · Score: 2, Funny

    I would be more worried about him taking the contacts out of my eyes!

    --
    emt 377 emt 4
  68. Re:Ugg by buchan232 · · Score: 1

    THANK YOU!!! This works for anyone else who would like to stop their eyes from burning :-)

  69. First thought after seeing the picture... by Ashyukun · · Score: 1

    When did the Ghostbusters become hackers??

    1. Re:First thought after seeing the picture... by fubar1971 · · Score: 1

      If I build one of these, will Sigourney Weaver be my Gate Keeper?

  70. Re:Sniper rifle?! by jonhuang · · Score: 1

    well, you can have a weapon--this isn't even a weapon--but you probably can't point a weapon-looking thing at random passerbys from your window!

  71. Less conspicuous in wild.. cans and cameras by mattr · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd think a pringles or coke can would be a bit less conspicuous..

    On the other hand you know those security video cameras used in public places which can be remote controlled to rotate and zoom in on someone's face? They are usually hidden in smoked glass domes in ceiling or, I suppose, in less conspicuous ways in places like casinos or board rooms. Sounds like another good aiming device, I saw one $500 dollar model in Akihabara recently you can operate from a web page. Same shop for a few hundred bucks also sold remote cameras accessible via UHF.

    I'd be worried if I carried anything with Bluetooth (so far I've resisted..) The more it penetrates it seems the more tiny yagi antennas you'll see. Only saving grace I could imagine is if the yagi antenna is left powered up maybe you could detect it as the camera pans across you... IANA EM Engineer but would not a yagi antenna also transmit towards you any noise from say the video camera's motor or power supply? If so a detector might be in order..

  72. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by dave420 · · Score: 2, Informative
    I hear ya! I'd never want a cellphone I could wirelessly connect up to my PDA to give me the internet whereever I am anywhere in Europe. That sounds horrible.

    If you would run around with your bluetooth turned on and advertising itself, of course there's a risk. Lots of features on phones are silly, but bluetooth is genuinely useful. I sit at my PC at work, and my address book syncs with my phone while it's still in my pocket. When I'm listening to music from my computer on my headphones, I can make calls on my phone, and use my microphone and headphones as a headset. I already mentioned the networking.

    Bag on polyphonic ringtones if you want, but bluetooth is an excellent technology.

  73. Minor Nit Pick by SoTuA · · Score: 1

    "0300 - Meet maker" :D

    1. Re:Minor Nit Pick by karnal · · Score: 1

      Probably more like

      "0300 - Prepare to meet Maker"
      "0400 - Meet Maker"

      That would probably have more effect, with alarms on the minute between each event.

      --
      Karnal
  74. Re:Sniper rifle?! by dave420 · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    If the 2nd ammendment was rewritten today, with todays needs in mind (and not those 200+ years ago), there wouldn't be a 2nd ammendment. Or if there was, it would be two words. The military. Not a bunch of accountants running around with handguns, making "pow! pow!" sounds. Like they could force off an attack from anyone, apart form some other accountants. Guns don't make soldiers. Just because you have the means to kill a person, doesn't mean you would be able to. Shit. I have lots of frying pans and food at home, yet you wouldn't want me cooking for you :)

  75. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by dave420 · · Score: 1

    And most gun owners are white, middle-class, and vote republican. Not the most caring people in the world (and some would say selfish). That's a pretty valid target, if you ask me.

  76. Douglas Adams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Let the guy rest in peace and come up with some new material, guys.

    1. Re:Douglas Adams by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Let the guy rest in peace and come up with some new material, guys.

      Gimme a break, his material hasn't even reached half-life yet. We're still quoting Python on a daily basis!

  77. uh what country are you from? by blach · · Score: 1

    You might be writing from England, I don't know, but the part about "illegal to have a handgun in safe at your home unless you're licensed, registered, and have passed a background check" is most certainly NOT true in America.

    Perhaps England has a division called "Homeland Security" as well, and that's why I'm confused?

    1. Re:uh what country are you from? by merlin_jim · · Score: 1

      I'm in the states.

      When you purchase a handgun in the state where I live, you have to pass a background check, plus a 24-hour "cooling off" period. At the end of this period you get a handgun permit. All handguns purchased in the state must be registered.

      And I'm not even going to get into the concealed weapon laws in this state.

      --
      I am disrespectful to dirt! Can you see that I am serious?!
    2. Re:uh what country are you from? by unixdad · · Score: 1

      Parts of it are true in some parts of the USA. I don't know about the back ground check, but it is my understanding that NY state requires handgun licenses.

      I believe that some states even require licenses for each specific handgun.

    3. Re:uh what country are you from? by fubar1971 · · Score: 1

      Apparently you do not live in New York.

  78. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by NineNine · · Score: 2, Informative

    Don't leave bluetooth enabled when not using it? Jesus christ... we're talking about a PHONE here? That's entirely too complicated. That's like saying that you should disconnect your computer from the Net when you're not using it. It's very simple... bluetooth is insecure, and is not used by probably 99% of people with cellphones. Thus, the smart thing to do is to avoid it like the plauge.

  79. Re:hrrm by dave420 · · Score: 1

    Or not use a rifle at all, as the article clearly states ;)

  80. James Bond by dfj225 · · Score: 3, Funny

    As I was reading the only thing I could think about was James Bond standing on top of a building and spying on someone's conversation using the Bluetooth rifle...now that is an awesome hack.

    --
    SIGFAULT
  81. Lets see now ... by cosmic_0x526179 · · Score: 1

    so you can hack the moto iTMS enabled phone via the blue shotgun ? insert new songs ? R.E.M. anyone ? or... play with the ringtone... this guys phone rings and Jimmy Hendrix starts whaling with the Star Spangled Banner... I like it !

    --
    This msg is brought to you by the letter 'W'.. for Worthless Wuss
  82. If you really must hear... by IronChefMorimoto · · Score: 4, Funny

    I could care less if you hack my BlueTooth phone.

    If some asshat need in you arises that demands that you must listen in on a conversation with my wife as she bitches at me for buying ROMA TOMATOES instead of CHERRY TOMATOES (they're fucking red, for Christ's sake), you go right ahead.

    And if it gets your lollies off to hear that, wait until she calls me to inform me that I, once again, forgot to let the dog shit before going to work. And I must clean up what ensued.

    Yeah -- hack that. All you want. :-[

    IronChefMorimoto

    1. Re:If you really must hear... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sheesh, You would think an Iron Chef would know his tomatoes.

  83. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by Rick.C · · Score: 1
    Great. I'm going back to cans and string.

    Fantastic mental image! You and about 50 other people in a public square, each with a can, and "any-to-any" strings attached between all of the cans.

    This would accomplish two things: make your network visible; and ensure that anyone trying to "hack in" would get tangled up and become "the biggest ball of string in" wherever you might be.
    --
    You were 80% angel, 10% demon. The rest was hard to explain. - Over The Rhine
    "Math in a song is good."-Linford
  84. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Slightly modified ENG (electronic news gathering) camera ... sits on your shoulder. Antenna is concealed in what "appears" to be a long-range microphone on the side. Video provides record of user's reaction to phone modifications.

    Of course, you have to realize that walking around with an ENG camera on your shoulder doesn't actually let you blend in ANYWHERE, but it DOES fit within the requirements posted above.

  85. Re:Sniper rifle?! by janbjurstrom · · Score: 1

    If so, do not use the BlueSniper in NYC..

    --
    668.5
  86. Re:Sniper rifle?! by unixdad · · Score: 1

    What in the heck are you talking about? What accountants are running around making "pow pow" sounds, and believing that this is effective?

    (And, for the record, I think you're wrong. I believe that if the framers could have known what was being being done to the 2nd amendment (now and over the last 100 years or so), they'd have tried to clarify it a bit -- "...and when we say 'shall not be infringed', we mean it.")

    Yeah, I know it's off topic.

  87. Re:Sniper rifle?! by DansnBear · · Score: 2

    The pic for this was posted on Tom's Hardware the other day. It was included in the article for DefCon.

    Pictue and description of rifle here.

    --

    -= Who are The Headlocks? =-
  88. Re:Sniper rifle?! by zulux · · Score: 1


    The Bill of Rights was framed right after we Americans just removed a foreign government from our lands. In order to have a revolution - you need free speech to articulate your reasons, you need privacy and meeting to plan, and you need guns.

    That the reason the Bill of Rights allows us to talk, meet and have guns.... just in case.

    --

    Moneyed corporations, non-working 'poor' and criminal prisoners are turning productive citizens into tax-slaves.

  89. Re:Obligatory Old European Response, WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Most of us that I know are white, blue-collar, union-card carrying democrats who think you have to quit sucking so much ****, you're going to pass out from the lack of oxygen. But you are right on one point, I don't really care what happens to you after you pass out; why get concerned about antagonists pulling a darwin award?

  90. I always suspected... by Beardo+the+Bearded · · Score: 1

    I always suspected that that show was fixed.

    --

    ---
    ECHELON is a government program to find words like bomb, jihad, plutonium, assassinate, and anarchy.
  91. Followup story by fhic · · Score: 2, Funny

    In a related story, Las Vegas police department sharpshooters shot two men who they say were preparing to assassinate random pedestrians from an 11th floor window of the Aladdin Hotel. When the concept of the "Bluetooth rifle" was explained to the police spokesman, he said, and we quote, "what a pair of f***ing idiots." Since the pair was shot approximately 10,000 times by the nice policemen with *real* rifles, only splinters of the "Bluetooth rifle" remain. Film at 11.

  92. No Parabolic Dish, But a Worthy Design Nonetheless by MonkeyGone2Heaven · · Score: 1


    How 'bout this?

    I've seen Sixteen Candles WAY too many times. Sigh...

  93. Sort of by OhHellWithIt · · Score: 1
    The scope and the rifle are already calibrated.

    Wouldn't you have to recalibrate the scope to take into account the fact that the radio signal isn't going to drop the way a bullet does? I would think that you could just wire-tie the scope to the axis of the antenna, maybe inserting some insulation in between them. No need to go around upsetting people who are afraid of guns.

    A question: If my rifle is a muzzleloader, does this mean I have to use Morse code instead of Bluetooth?

    --
    "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell
  94. forget colors, redesign it. by Tired_Blood · · Score: 2, Interesting

    For hunters safety class, you're told to carry binoculars. Sure there's a scope on your rifle, but most things (also read: people) that you want to see up close also run the risk of getting shot.

    You get a different vibe when someone is "just looking" at you with binoculars than with a rifle scope. Also, the environment you're in (hunting season) means that the person you'd be aiming at ALSO has a decent weapon and would be very interested in observing you in the same manner. The person reacting would also be more likely to want to "feel safer" while looking.

    The picture in the article: he looks like he's holding a chainsaw or a seriously bayonetted rifle. Basically, it LOOKS dangerous.

    Point that thing at someone's head (it's for cell phones - right?) and you're ASKING for trouble.

    As for painting it bright colors: it would be better to just use a less threatening design - an orange weapon is still a weapon.

    --
    This is not my sig.
  95. Re:Not really. A camera tripod would be better or by OnTheMoney · · Score: 1

    Yeah, of course, the 50' was without the rifle. They did 1.1 miles with the rifle. So that's a little less obvious.

    Sitting in an office building in the middle of a city, looking out reflective windows, you can see a LOT of bluetooth cell phones within a mile or less range.

    --
    Money Book Review

  96. Blue tooth... bluebox... by celerityfm · · Score: 1

    Gives a whole new meaning to the term bluebox now doesn't it?

    --
    ...unfortunately no one can be told what The Mat^H^H^HGoatse is...they must experience it for themselves...
  97. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by magefile · · Score: 1

    So buy a BlueTooth phone and TURN THE DAMN BLUETOOTH OFF! You're like a Windows user, whining: "but I can't turn it off, it was enabled by default".

  98. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "To my knowledge, there is no law anywhere that makes it illegal to point an antenna at someone."

    Terrorizing the public...
    disorderly conduct...
    being an asshole...
    and the obvious-- intent to commit computer hacking .

  99. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Or if there was, it would be two words. The military.

    Wasn't the point of the second ammendment to protect the US population _against_ an out-of-conntrol military?

  100. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    it's illegal to have a handgun in a safe at your home unless you're licensed

    Wow, that's a restrictive country.

    I knew a guy who went on a long camping-trip across the US and wanted to carry a handgun for protection. He checked with every state what the gun laws were for different carry laws. Some (California) were pretty strict - unloaded, locked case, separate locked case for ammo.

    The best answer was from Arizona, though. To the question "How should I carry my handgun through Arizona" The cop he asked told him "well, it's not going to do you much good if it's not loaded".

    Nice to live in the US where we still have some freedoms left.

  101. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    insofar insofar insofar!

  102. Snipers by emtboy9 · · Score: 1

    Ack... damnit! Now there are snipers in my cell phone!

    --
    "Our funds have never taken part in toxic or death spiral convertible financings of any sort" -BayStar's managing partne
  103. Re:Sniper rifle?! by thrash242 · · Score: 1

    In some states it may be illegal to own a handgun, but not here in Texas (nor in most states, I think). I can walk into a pawn shop, buy a handgun and keep it in my nightstand with no legal problems whatsoever (and no, there are no children in the house). The only thing that's illegal to do with handguns as far as I can tell is carry them openly. You can only carry them concealed (with a permit) as far as I know.

    As far as not getting in trouble, you probably will at least get some nervous people if you're visibly aiming it.

  104. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by Entropy_ajb · · Score: 1

    I am more concerned about phones that have built in cameras. I have worked for two different companies now who both have a very strict no cameras on the premises rule. This also means no cell-phones with cameras built in. It is starting to get to the point where you can't get a high end phone without a camera. I want to see one of the phone manufactures make a phone that is as small, has a color screen, but doesn't have a camera built in. Is that too much to ask?

  105. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by autocracy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yeah, but all I want my phone to do is store numbers and call numbers. Seriously. I'll get a seperate PDA for the rest of the crap. And no f'ing way I want a camera on there either. If I wanted a camera, I'd get a nice slim digital, or a real SLR camera.

    --
    SIG: HUP
  106. Oh No! They can find out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    which American idol I voted for!!!

    What is this world coming to?

  107. Great! by jerometremblay · · Score: 1

    This should invalidate SMS usage in courts as evidence.

    http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/ 07 /29/malaysia.divorce/

  108. Bluetooth is incorrectly implemented. by Inoshiro · · Score: 1

    This problem seems like one that could be fixed in software. Turning BT on and off as required is a great intermediate solution, but a lot of cellphone and PDA people have implemented their software such that turing it on and off requires walking through several menus. It's a chore for something that should be as simple as 2-3 button presses.

    The people who whine to not buy BT cellphones and devices are, of course, as retarded as the companies who did not implement a secure standard ;)

    --
    --
    Internet Explorer (n): Another bug -- that is, a feature that can't be turned off -- in Windows.
    1. Re:Bluetooth is incorrectly implemented. by rokzy · · Score: 1

      on my P900 I click
      Control Panel->Connections->Bluetooth-> On->Done (takes about 3 secs)
      I also get a tick box whether to be visible to other devices.
      To turn off again, click the Bluetooth icon->Off->Done
      While Bluetooth is enabled a blue light slowly flashes.

      If this "visible to other devices" option is not present on other phones that is a mistake of the manufacturer.

      If the hacked phones have "not visible" enabled then that's a problem with Bluetooth.

      If the hacked phones don't have "not visible" enabled then that's the user's fault.

      There is no reason (other than ignorance) to have Bluetooth enabled and visible to everyone else.

  109. Re:Sniper rifle?! by KD5YPT · · Score: 1

    Well, its that and the fact that all they need is a short burst of connection to hack it. So it operates like a sniper rifle.

    Ready the compuetr, Aim the scope, Trigger the signal, Target HACKED.

    --
    In US, you can easily buy enough major firearms to wipe out your neighbourhood but a few little fireworks are banned.
  110. the term would be... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    War Sniping?

    How about War Toothing.

  111. Old Hat by Darlantan · · Score: 1

    I, for one, fail to be impressed by this. The idea of adding a scope/stock to a surveillance device isn't a new one -- I've done the same thing myself, but it wasn't pointed at bluetooth devices. Sure, it's a good idea, but there's nothing revolutionary here that I can see. Am I missing something? (Other than the 'wow kewl' factor)

    --
    Fill in your four or five-letter word of wisdom here _ _ _ _ _.
  112. HAHAHA SO FUNNY..NOT!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Godammit you stupid MS bashing parents basement dwellers can`t even think up a good joke...jeez

  113. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Computer hacking isn't a crime. Actually gaining access to a system without the users consent is a crime.

  114. But you do gain karma by Aexia · · Score: 2, Funny

    for reminding people that they don't gain karma for a funny mod.

    Funny how that works.

  115. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the bill of rights cleary does not indicate a military.

    but something to stomp on the military if it gets out of line

  116. Data for metamods/mods by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I modded the parent interesting because this might be an appropiate name to be used for these types of devices. Would you have this in mind before metamodding, please?

    BTW, I think it should be something like 1/3 interesting, 2/3 funny, thanks.

  117. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by data64 · · Score: 1

    No. But when I install a Linux distro I do not get all the 100 million packages. I just get what I need, mainly because additional services means more vector points for hacking into the box. With phones the way to choose which features you get is to select a particular model which is exactly what the parent poster is talking about.

  118. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by lidocaineus · · Score: 1

    Informative? Sheesh, more like complete luddite.

    If you actually KNEW anything about bluetooth, you know there are simple ways to secure the connections (which the article conveniently leaves out). Here's a hint; how many simultaneous connections can most bt enabled phones host on the stack?

  119. Uh who the hell cares... Seriously. by BaCkBuRn · · Score: 1

    Every fucking week they have to remind us that wireless technologies are shitty.

    Idiot: hey guess what, wireless is insecure!
    Me: no shit

    Wireless tech makes it so i dont have to be in your building to hack you. I can be in your parking lot.
    In reality wired networks are 10x more insecure than wireless. There is an assumption of protection because they could see the black hat walk in the door.
    Bullshit, I'm the repair man, the delivery boy, the lunch guy, or even ur mom.
    Walk in, plug in, and masqerade as someone else.
    Why are we focusing on wireless insecurities when our wired networks are even worse...

    --
    PRINT "Signature line broken."
    GOTO 1
    1. Re:Uh who the hell cares... Seriously. by urchin3k · · Score: 1

      It's the truth! Happens all the time.sys admins:"it's secure because its wired" Us: "ya my ass"

  120. When I first saw the photo by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I thought: Tusken Bluetooth Raiders!

  121. I don't need the yagi antenna by noidentity · · Score: 1

    Just give me a sniper rifle and I'll "hack" (more like crack, to pieces) a phone from a long distance.

  122. I want one of those! by KB1GHC · · Score: 1

    That rifle is awsome! where can I buy one?

  123. Switch of your pc when not in use? by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1
    Wow yeah that is complicated. I barely managed to grasp that I should turn of the engine of my car when I get out. Next thing I should close my door I suppose. Geez whiz this stuff is high-tech.

    Oh well just shoot the guy that made blue-tooth have no security. Simple.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  124. Lack of disclosure disturbing... by edgedmurasame · · Score: 1

    This:
    What is the Philosophy of Full Disclosure, and why are we providing the tools and detailing the methods that allow this to be done?

    Followed by this:
    Tools will not be released at this time, so please do not ask. However, if you are a bona-fide manufacturer of bluetooth devices that we have been otherwise unable to contact, please feel free to get in touch for more details on how you can identify your device status.


    Seems to think that either they didnt check the article, or are not really wanting to do Full Disclosure. The cat's out of the bag, when would they release it, despite it being hardware that's vulnerable? If they really wanted to know what works and what doesnt, they'd release it to the rest of the world and let a wider base and accept the (minor) collateral damage that might ensue.

    we'll show you ours if you show us yours
    Well, I truly doubt ALD would in any case given how they respond to this one.
    I'd consider mailing them on this one: adam@algroup.co.uk and ben@algroup.co.uk

    --
    "Forget the engineers." -Carly Fiorina, briber of MIT Technology Review.
  125. Re:Sniper rifle?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well, it comes down to this:

    You're either extremely witty or American.

    (And in case you're the latter, no, it isn't a compliment.)

  126. Can you mod it... by FusionDragon2099 · · Score: 0

    So it doubles as long-range Bluetooth and a rifle? What would really be fun to do is take over hack someone's phone to dial out to the Carribean or something and snipe them. Leave their next of kin with the phone bill.

  127. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by Lemmy+Caution · · Score: 1

    Um, do you know about Bluetooth hands-free headsets? I use mine all the time - which mines my BlueTooth is always on (though it doesn't authorize automaticallyl, of course - do you know how BlueTooth pairing works?)

    You're not talking about a simple security precaution, you're talking about removing the functionality of the device. It's like telling someone who has been mugged, "well, you shouldn't use cash, anyway!" It's a stupid remark.

    Of course, from a privacy perspective, a good parabolic mike would pick up on any conversation you're having, anyway. It's the damage to the unit that's a problem.

  128. Re:Why geeks should not discuss firearms... by Glendale2x · · Score: 1

    Yeah, it's a troll, but I'll bite...

    If you pointed this device at someone holding a cell phone you are likely to "miss" and pick up the guy behind and to the right, or left, of him. How the hell are you going to zero a fucking antenna? hmmm?! You cant, not with a scope anyway.

    Really easy, actually. Get a scope (the other kind) and watch the screen. Adjust the optical scope accordingly. The laser pointer method is typically used as a quick and dirty way to aim two directional antennas at eachother.

    Besides, the beam width of a scope is somewhat less than the beam width of a yagi. Laser is much narrower. Assuming you've aligned the scope with a scope, whatever you see is definitely going to be the target. Just because one is kinetic energy and the other RF energy doesn't mean it can't be aimed properly.

    because most of you have never even hel a real firearm and you have NO idea how they work! Just beacuse they used a scoped rifle stock doesnt mean it can aim worth a shit!

    I can't say SOF2 qualifies you as a firearms expert. Some of us do know how to properly operate, and have used, real live firearms.

    --
    this is my sig
  129. Re:Yet another reason to get the *cheap* phones by magefile · · Score: 1

    I was replying to NineNine, who said that this was a reason to buy a phone without BT, then bemoaned the lack of phones without it. I use a Jabra headset myself; my point was, if you don't want BT, you can turn it off.

    Thus, it would be more analogous to someone saying, "I keep getting mugged - I wish I didn't have to carry my wallet with me when I'm not paying for stuff" and replying "Then leave your wallet in the car when you don't need it".

    And yes, I do know how pairing works. Or are you saying that there are phones that do the headset BT without the other BT stuff?