Windows Phone 7.5 Mango-based smartphones are reportedly under a denial-of-service attack. Hackers are able to halt the functioning of messaging hub of Mango devices this way. Once a specially crafted SMS lands in a device with WP7.5 Mango, it automatically gets rebooted and later you won’t open up the messaging hub on the phone. WinRumors has found the flaw in help of one of its readers namely Khaled Salameh, who informed the tech blog of such a defect. WinRumors in co-operation with Salameh has invited the attention of Microsoft to the issue.
According to the tech blog, all Windows Phone 7.5 Mango-based phones are found to have the problem. It is not a hardware specific issue; but is with the way Windows Phone handles messages, says the tech blog. The flaw is noted with key WP7.5 Mango phones like Samsung Focus Flash and HTC Titan. The software version that undergoes the denial-of-service attack is 7740 version of Windows Phone 7.5. Some devices with Mango RTM build 7720 also reported to have the flaw.
Stunningly, the bug is also triggered when a user sends a Windows Live Messenger message or Facebook chat message to a friend, WinRumors notes. The fault affects some other parts of the operating system also. A device also locks up when a friend, whom you have pinned as a live tile on your start menu, updates his/her Facebook profile. But, you have a workaround to solve this live tile issue. At the initial stage of booting, you have the facility to take away the pinned live tile in order to resolve the defect.
As per reports, both Apple iOS and Google Android had earlier faced similar defects. The iOS 3.0 had some denial-of-service flaw, which was uncovered by security researcher Charlie Miller. Through such an attack, hackers could take control over an iPhone. But, the similar fault with Android could not help attackers steal control of the device. Android phones were only partially accessible to the hackers.
It is for the first time the issue is up with a Windows Phone-based device. However, it is not related with security. As noted by WinRumors, the defect is connected with the way Windows Phone 7.5 Mango devices handle messages. Indeed, Microsoft will be accepting an immediate action to fix the bug.
Microsoft launched its Windows Phone 7.5 Mango, the new upgrade to its mobile OS some months back. Unveiled to take on the latest versions of iOS and Android, respectively iOS 5 and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, WP7.5 Mango is the most advanced version of Windows Phone OS. Several phones including Samsung Focus Flash, HTC Titan, HTC Radar and Nokia Lumia 800 play on the new version of Windows Phone now.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
About the author: Kate Wilsson is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology, health, luxury and parenting. These days she is busy in writing articles on pregnancy diet and Carbon fiber .
