Microsoft confirms and quickly patches a Skype password vulnerability.
We all know and love Skype for it's free, easy and reliable video calling and IM services, but today a password vulnerability came to the mainstream having cropped on on a Russian forum two months ago.
HotHardware summed up the process perfectly, they said: "To take advantage of the flaw, all a user had to do was create a new Skype account using the same email address as the intended victim. After proceeding through the signup process and ignoring the warning that an account with that email already exists, a person could use the reset password request form to reset the password for all accounts associated with the registered email address. In turn, this would lock out the original account owner."
Skype have been proactive on the problem and despite this supposedly only affecting a small number of users, they issued this statement earlier this afternoon:
"Early this morning we were notified of user concerns surrounding the security of the password reset feature on our website. This issue affected some users where multiple Skype accounts were registered to the same email address. We suspended the password reset feature temporarily this morning as a precaution and have made updates to the password reset process today so that it is now working properly. We are reaching out to a small number of users who may have been impacted to assist as necessary. Skype is committed to providing a safe and secure communications experience to our users and we apologize for the inconvenience."Via HotHardware.
RIM announces voice calls via BBM.
In other news:
Today RIM has announced that devices running BB OS 6 or newer will be able to make voice calls via BBM! If you have a device running BB OS5 you will be able to use this feature but RIM is currently working on it, so you won't have it for a little while! Naturally the calls will be free but there's one criteria which may well be too much of a draw back for some people. That potential problem is that both parties currently have to be connected to Wifi to make the calls!
Unfortunately, this does mean that we will have to rely on minutes purchased from a carrier for the moment, but hopefully there will be an option to make them over 3G in the future, although we can't guarantee anything. Although, you guys who're rocking an unlimited data plan would undoubtedly love that!
Is this enough to make you hold out until some point soon in February or March for a BB10 phone?
Via The BBC.
In other news:
- The Queen will soon have a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 in her collection. She received the device, complete with "videos, photographs and text submitted by participants who have recounted memories from the past 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign."
Danny Sriskandarajah, who's the director of the Royal Commonwealth Society charity, who gifted the Queen the tablet said; "The digital nature of the project required a digital device to present to Her Majesty, and The Queen will be able to press 'play' on the tablet before watching a video of some of the best Jubilee time-capsule entries." We're a little bit jealous we must admit!
Via The BBC.
- Further to our coverage of Android 4.2 being released to AOSP yesterday, we can confirm that the Nexus S and the Motorola Xoom are no longer being supported with updates! On top of that, there is some ambiguity over the future of the Nexus 4 with regard to code being released to the AOSP. Naturally we'll let you know if we hear anything else. Sorry guys!
Via CoolSmartphone.
- Today a report has surfaced that says the amount of text messages sent in the US has declined for the first time ever! Could this mark a turning point where people are choosing to send messages via online messaging services like iMessage, WhatsApp and ChatOn instead of SMS? We'll have to wait and see if this is a little blip or whether it becomes more of a trend!
ChetanSharma via CNet.
- T-Mobile USA customers who are also the proud owners of Galaxy S3's are reportedly getting an update to Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean as we speak. The software should be called T999UVDLJA and if it hasn't turned up yet it will arrive OTA soon!
Via PhoneArena.
- Xiaomi have launched a competitor to Google and Apple's TV solutions today. It's got the hugely original name, Xiaomi Box. The Box runs a fully MIUI-ed version of Android and . The box will set you back 399 yuan if you live in China, which is roughly $64, which we think is really rather cheap! If you need more details have a little look at the source link!
Via Slashgear.
- Apple were today officially granted a patent for a 'rectangle with curved corners'. This is a very broad patent and should they use it for litigation it's very hard to imagine it won't be overturned!
Via Ars Technica.
- Ohh and do you remember Samsung's Bada operating system? Well apparently more phones were sold, running that OS, than Windows Phone according to Gartner! Ouch!
Via Slashgear.
And finally, is this Blackberry's upcoming 4.2" L-Series handset which has been widely rumoured? In the snap below it's side by side with an iPhone 5, just to give you a point for comparison.
Via Crackberry.
