A security flaw has been uncovered in the Windows Phone 7.5 operating software (also known as ‘Mango’) which can open up your smartphone to potentially harmful SMS messaging.
A reader of Winrumors contacted the Microsoft dedicated tech site to inform them that he had found the vulnerability which users can inadvertently activate through the messaging hub. The Windows rumours site followed up Khaled Salamed’s claims, found them to be true and have now posted a video on their YouTube channel showing how exactly the bug will affect your devices such as the Nokia Lumia 800 and HTC Titan.
The phone used in the video is a Samsung model and the clip shows us how a malware SMS can be delivered to the handset under the guise of legit text message. The vibration/tone notification is heard, but on clicking the messaging hub the Windows Phone alarmingly shuts itself off and when the gadget is rebooted the messaging hub becomes completely inaccessible and unresponsive to the users touch. Even after multiple attempts and reboots it’s still a no sell.
At the moment an affected Windows Phone handset can only by remedied by system reset and a complete erase of all data. But Winrumors are working with the discoverer of the problem as well as Microsoft itself to fix this vulnerability as soon as possible. We’ll keep you posted.
If you are one of the unfortunates affected by this bug on your new Windows Phone gadget please tell us about it on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.