Chinese smartphone = back door

[jyl]

https://news.slashdot.org/story/16/09/15/1923220/xiaomi-can-silently-install-any-app-on-your-android-phone-using-a-backdoor

Xiaomi is a big Chinese smartphone maker, entering the US/European market next year.

This probably isn't the only backdoor built into their phones.

[Holger]

Ummm, what is it Samsung is using when deactivating S7-devices if they are not returned?
And wasnt there a lock that Apple was using if a non-Apple spare part was used?

Every phone has a backdoor, believe me. I hope nobody believes a manufacturer that tells you that they are not doing that if a deveice has any sort of network connection!

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Holger

Ummm, what is it Samsung is using when deactivating S7-devices if they are not returned?
And wasnt there a lock that Apple was using if a non-Apple spare part was used?

Every phone has a backdoor, believe me. I hope nobody believes a manufacturer that tells you that they are not doing that if a deveice has any sort of network connection!

Devices get shipped with auto update on by default.

They just push an update.

Never heard about Apple locking phones if a non Apple part is installed.

That's not even remotely legal in the US. It would violate the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

If you are talking about error 53 that one is logical.

It's related to the Touch ID button.

Touch ID would not be very secure if all that was required to defeat it was replacing the button.

And it's not Apple connecting to the phone or some sort of phone home.

The phone runs checksum tests and if it detects a mismatch it disables itself.

[Holger]

Yes, I was talking about the error 53, and yes, it is logical.
So, the phone is locked/disabled if a non Apple part is installed. Legal or not legal?

[GH85Carrera]

The phone carriers have always had control of any phone on their network.

I was slow to get a cell phone. I have lived the majority of my life without a cell phone. I saw lots of my friends getting phones and they were crazy expensive and each call cost money. I saw no point. Finally AT&T had a promotion and they mailed me a phone, a fairly large Nokia phone the size of most home wireless phones. It was far from a smart phone but it was a free activation and $22 per month. They hit my price point. I got the phone and of course turned it on and tried to call. It did not work so I called AT&T (on a land line) and they said I had a phone number that was already in use. They said to leave the phone on and charging and wait an hour. They changed the phone number on that phone while it was in my office. That was 20 years ago or so.

[HardDrive]

Pretty sure Apple can brick your phone if they want.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Holger

Yes, I was talking about the error 53, and yes, it is logical.
So, the phone is locked/disabled if a non Apple part is installed. Legal or not legal?

Error 53 could occur with an OEM original authorized Apple part.

You could have taken two iPhones fresh out of the box, swapped their buttons and they could possibly lock.

The error was only specific to iOS 9 and as of 9.2.1 no longer occurs and even allows previously error 53 locked devices to be resurrected.

It was never a deliberate initiative on Apples part to punish people for 3rd party repairs.

It was a bug that only affected devices under certain conditions and has been addressed by Apple.

Even had it been intentional it would have been legal because a repair that affected the ability of the sensor and device to pair would have dramatically affected the ability of the device to perform as intended.

[stealthn]

Huawei and ZTE are banned for this very reason...

[scottmandue]

Isn't "Chinese smartphone" redundant?

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Isn't "Chinese smartphone" redundant?

More like a oxymoron.

Like quality Chinese steel or Quality almost anything.