Message-ID: <9c4add67-3824-6e3c-0fc1-5e7a3103749a@mtneva.com>
Date: 25 May 2021 18:02:09 -0600
From: "Stuart McGraw" <smcg4191@mtneva.com>
Subject: Mobile phone companies can change your phone's software?
I don't have a mobile phone since I seldom travel far these days
but every once in a while I think about getting one. Prompted by
another discussion on this list I was looking at Tracfone's Terms
and Conditions [https://www.tracfone.com/termsandconditions]
and was horrified to read:
we may remotely change your phone's software, applications, or
programming without notice. This could affect information stored
on your phone, your phone's programming, and how you are able to
use your phone.
Is this a common condition for mobile service providers? Are they
talking only about phones you get from them (although they don't
say that)? Or (putting on my tinfoil hat) does it provide them
with legal cover when carrying out government requested "operations"?
Do phone operating systems (Android in particular) provide any
protection from this? I presume they seldom if ever exercise
this ability but it seems like a pretty excessive carte blanche.
-- Stuart McGraw
Message-ID: <20210526134524.GA28481@telecom.csail.mit.edu>
Date: Wed, 26 May 2021 13:45:24 +0000
From: Bill Horne <malQRMassimilation@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Mobile phone companies can change your phone's
software?
On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 06:02:09PM -0600, Stuart McGraw wrote:
> ...I was looking at Tracfone's Terms and Conditions
> [https://www.tracfone.com/termsandconditions] and was horrified to
> read:
>
> we may remotely change your phone's software, applications, or
> programming without notice. This could affect information stored
> on your phone, your phone's programming, and how you are able to
> use your phone.
>
> Is this a common condition for mobile service providers? Are they
> talking only about phones you get from them (although they don't
> say that)? Or (putting on my tinfoil hat) does it provide them
> with legal cover when carrying out government requested "operations"?
> Do phone operating systems (Android in particular) provide any
> protection from this? I presume they seldom if ever exercise
> this ability but it seems like a pretty excessive carte blanche.
IANALB, yes, it is all of those things AFAICT.
The Cellular industry, like the software industry, is taking advantage
of "Pioneer Preference," which is the de facto right to make their own
rules. Cellular companies are trying to establish an environment where
they own your phone, and the data in it, and the right to deliver your
eyeballs to any advertiser they choose, or to deny you the right to
see or hear any information which contradicts their plan to make you a
sheep to be shorn at regular intervals.
Welcome to the world of surveillance and separation. Big Brother is
watching you.
Bill
--
Bill Horne
(Remove QRM from my email address to write to me directly)
Message-ID: <20210525184232.305FB73B@telecom2018.csail.mit.edu>
Date: Tue, 25 May 2021 18:42:32 +0000 (UTC)
From: Moderator <telecomdigestsubmissions@remove-this.telecom-digest.org>
Subject: Accidental fiber cut causes Verizon outages across the
southeast
The problem has been fixed.
Updated: 3:50 PM EDT May 24, 2021
TAMPA, Fla. - Did you have issues with your phone today? If so, you're
not alone.
A fiber-optic cable was accidentally cut Monday, causing a disruption
for some Verizon customers.
The mistake affected voice calling for what the company described as a
"small number" of customers across the southeastern United States.
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/verizon-cable-cut-outage/67-0f9ae051-a69e-4595-af60-a48685553527
