iPhone spammed?

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iPhone spammed?

Hello, first post here and an odd question for you...

This morning I turned my iPhone on, left it so boot up whilst I brushed my teeth. When I got back and unlocked the phone I was greeted by a black screen with the message "*goSo this work? In your phone, eating your txts" with a green "dismiss" button underneath. I wasn't sure what was going on so I held the power button down, witched the iPhone off and back on and the message had gone and it seems so far that no damage has been done.
The WiFi was on and bluetooth off. Does anyone have any ideas as to what happened? My best guess is some sort of spam although I'm not sure how. The way the message reads it's as if someone was testing out whatever it was that sent the message? Strange.

Anyway, any thoughts?

Darren.

MacBook

Posted on May 21, 2009 12:44 AM

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Answer 1

daj_uk

Level 1

124 points

May 21, 2009 2:51 AM in response to ninja.darren

I had the same thing last night and I what to know how it was done.

My phone was sitting on the table; it made an email ping; I pressed the black button at the bottom of the phone; it showed a completely black screen with a message on it with a big Dismiss button at the bottom. The message on the screen was quite specific (mentioned a name) so I doubt it was spam. Once I pressed Dismiss the message went away and the screen returned to the normal home screen where you slide to unlock. There was nothing in my email or SMS box

How was it done?

Here is a screen shot -- I used another iphone to take a picture of the screen before I dismissed it!

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/33488/iphone.jpg

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Answer 2

daj_uk

Level 1

124 points

May 21, 2009 3:25 AM in response to daj_uk

I found out how it is done.

If anyone (on any phone) sends a text message to someone with an iPhone which starts *go it will display that message in that way

example, send a text message to yourself ... *go Hello

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Answer 3

ninja.darren Author

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May 21, 2009 5:05 AM in response to ninja.darren

Wow, now there's interesting! Your picture looks exactly like what happened to me earlier. I wonder what the reason/use of the '*go' thing is exactly, or, if it is just an odd glitch? Oh well, good to know someone isn't 'in my phone, eating my txts'! Now, on to find out who it was, I have a pretty good idea...

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Answer 4

May 21, 2009 5:13 AM in response to daj_uk

This must be specific to the network you are on. It does not happen on Optus in Australia.

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Answer 5

May 21, 2009 6:36 AM in response to ninja.darren

I suspect it's a broadcast message rather than a standard sms. My cell phone operator sends these types of messages to my phone regarding my current balance after I make calls/send sms's

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Answer 6

daj_uk

Level 1

124 points

May 21, 2009 1:12 PM in response to JediHomer

interestingly it has stopped working!

a few of my friends, who all have iphones, have tested it again tonight and it no longer works -- I wonder if O2 have disabled it.

I'm glad it is not working as it is a slippery slope to unidentified spamming as it did not show the sender

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