Windows Phone 7 SMS Attack Uncovered

A reader of the WinRumors website has discovered a security loophole in the Windows Phone 7 OS with some rather worrying consequences. In fact, it seems that phones running this mobile OS can be rendered practically unusable by a simple text message.

WinRumors reader Khaled Salameh has uncovered a serious security loophole in the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system, as a bugged text message can shut down and practically disable a handset. When the text message arrives the system crashes, and when the smartphone reboots certain functions are no longer accessible. The only way to make the phone work again after the attack is to restore the factory settings, which means users lose all their data and custom settings.

This loophole presents a pretty serious risk for any smartphone running Windows Phone 7—all the more so since the text message attack can be carried out by sending a poisoned SMS from Facebook or MSN. WinRumours and Khaled Salameh contacted Microsoft about the problem as soon as it was discovered, so let's hope a fix is in the pipeline!

Take a look at the WinRumors video below, which shows one of the dreaded text message attacks live in action, as well as its debilitating effects on the handset.



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