[lordms12]

Google has issued a fix to the G1 handset, to stop it executing commands just because they appear in an entered text message - preventing punters from rebooting the handset just by typing the word "reboot".

The bug can hardly be called a security problem, given it requires access to the handset, but the fact that until the fix was issued today any G1 user typing a text message containing the word "reboot" would see their phone resetting is truly stunning, and it reflects badly on the quality control and testing of the Android platform.

Of course, not many messages contain the word "reboot" - though probably more than contain the word "cancer", which also appears in the T9 dictionary, and at least one G1 user discovered that the proclivities of the handset could drive you to use the word in a text message. It's hard to imagine the circumstances under which one would want to send a message containing "rm -r", but stranger things have happened.

To its credit Google has already got a fix out, though it seems some related issues still exist, but such a stupid flaw should never have made it into a released product - perhaps Google is taking the idea of the perpetual beta a little too far. ®

@TheRegister

This post has been edited by skyhawk133: 11 November 2008 - 09:19 AM

[GWatt]

Is there any word on if typing cat /dev/random > /dev/audio will give you a stream of random noise?

[KYA]

That's hilarious. It's always the simple things that people miss. At least when I'm coding or such.

[gbertoli3]

Wow that is Stupid for Google. Just think if they were that careless with their Search Engine.
We could Reboot the Entire Server and Control the Internet.

This post has been edited by gbertoli3: 11 November 2008 - 10:31 AM

[KYA]

Shhhhh, don't let my diabolical plan get out!

[gbertoli3]

OK I fixed my Post

[lanec42]

Quote

We could Reboot the Entire Server and Control the Internet.

Done.

[WolfCoder]

I find it a little hard to believe a bunch of programmers who talk about programs they write would have a conversation without commands or the word "reboot". How did they miss THAT!? If a G1 viewed this page it would have a fit.

[no2pencil]

Reboot

[Tom9729]

Does anyone here actually own a G1, and if so could they please validate this? Mistakes happen to anyone, but it seems like a pretty glaring oversight for Google.

I saw the link to the Google page, but citing The Register is probably the best way to discredit your argument.

[WolfCoder]

no2pencil, on 11 Nov, 2008 - 07:20 PM, said:

Reboot

I remember that stupid CG cartoon! Me and my sister watched it years ago at a hotel in Taos during breakfast as we turned the TV on to something random.

[Tom9729]

WolfCoder, on 11 Nov, 2008 - 09:41 PM, said:

no2pencil, on 11 Nov, 2008 - 07:20 PM, said:

Reboot

I remember that stupid CG cartoon! Me and my sister watched it years ago at a hotel in Taos during breakfast as we turned the TV on to something random.

I used to watch Reboot before I went to school.

I think I'm going to go watch it right now...

[indrora]

Well this begs the question: Why does this ONLY occur on the hardware and not in their little playpen they call an emulator? Shouldnt the only thing that differs be the linux kernel running down below?