Hadn't realised that wasn't a global system, but not sure this article has really explained what the problem with it is. There's mention of fraud, yet this system has been active here for decades, so surely that's either a thing or it isn't?
It is—the first I is 'International'! I just checked in the US that *#06# will pull up the IMEI on my T-Mobile Android phone; I have no idea if that's specific to TMo or to Android. Or maybe you mean blocking by IMEI isn't global?
> There's mention of fraud, yet this system has been active here for decades, so surely that's either a thing or it isn't?
I'm not sure that follows. A lot changes over decades, and what once could be allowed to proceed on the basis that the fraud it enabled was sufficiently low-probability may now be too common a vector of attack, or at least perceived as too high-risk as a potential vector.
duxup•8mo ago
>We worry that there is a vector for fraud... we are concerned about a world where it would be a person who claims to be the owner who's asking.
I would be concerned about that too.
m463•8mo ago
It would be pretty easy to do this to the physical phone of an ex or a journalist, where the phone company helps your attack.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denial-of-service_attack
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_job