Stolen Sidekicks And Adventures In Real-Time Syncing

from the hidden-benefits dept

A while back, I wrote a piece for TheFeature, talking about one of the downsides to real-time syncing between a mobile phone and an operator's server. Specifically, I was discussing the T-Mobile Sidekick, which automatically copies everything you do on the phone to a server. This can be quite useful, as you have a real-time backup of everything on your phone. It also lets you log in to the server via the web -- and since the server syncs back to the phone as well, you basically have a web interface to your phone. That can be really useful. The downside, however, is that it makes the data in your phone a bit less private. In the article above, the concern was highlighted due to a hacker getting login information for many T-Mobile subscribers. That gave him full access to everything on their phones via the web interface. Since most people tend to think that the data on their phone is safe unless they've lost the phone itself, this could represent a problem. In fact, about a month after writing that article, the famous hacking of Paris Hilton's Sidekick became a big story. However, it appears there's now a reverse situation going on. A story getting passed rapidly around the blogworld is one where the owner of a stolen Sidekick used the real-time backup to get the AOL screen name of the person who ended up with the phone, as well as numerous photos taken by that person. In this case, the real-time syncing allowed the true owner of the phone to communicate with and see who had taken the phone. The original phone owner is now using the web and the attention this has generated to track down more info on the person (who refuses to give back the phone) and figure out what next steps to take. Whether this is an example of crowdsourcing or a web mob may depend on your perspective.
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  1. identicon
    Republican Gun, 7 Jun 2006 @ 5:04am

    Lo Jack for phones.

    Instead of paying five bucks a month to use stupid crap like Vcast and image sending, how about offering a lo jack service for phones.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    James, 7 Jun 2006 @ 5:07am

    Refuses to give back the phone?

    Um, receiving stolen goods?anyone?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Tom, 7 Jun 2006 @ 5:41am

    ...why not...

    Why not subpoena AOL for the IP that the screen name has connected from, then subpoena the ISP for the subscriber. If it works for the **AA, then why not for us too?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    DJ Danny B, 7 Jun 2006 @ 5:57am

    Revenge is sweet.....

    especially when it is approached in a way like this. Nothing worse than humiliation. They deserve it. Good job Evan.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 7 Jun 2006 @ 7:25am

    Why not subpoena AOL for the IP that the screen name has connected from, then subpoena the ISP for the subscriber. If it works for the **AA, then why not for us too?
    It will probably work for him too. Notice that the site is almost a live account of what is going on. It started yesterday and is continuing today. He mentions that T-mobile and the police are involved now, so I have no doubt that the people will be caught for this, there just has not been a chance yet.

    I'm not sure if I agree that public humiliation is in order. Even though these people are obviously guilty, they have not been proven so in a court of law by a jury of their peers. While I get a mean satisfaction in knowing that stupid people are getting theirs, I feel bad that at least some of these people may just be caught up in a big misunderstanding. Take the 16 yo girl. It sounds like she was given the sidekick by a friend/relative whoe may or may not have bought it off of the cab driver. If so, does she really deserve to have this mark against her for such a small crime?

    I'm not vilifying it, but I am also not condoning it. I am really not sure where I stand, and we'll just have to let this play out.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    JimmyJamz, 7 Jun 2006 @ 7:38am

    Stolen Sidekick

    This is a great story to follow. These people are getting theirs. I really agree with Evan, all he's doing is asking for an apology and his phone back. And the way he exposed them is awesome. Rock on!

    -Jamz

    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Republican Gun, 7 Jun 2006 @ 9:55am

    Trash

    Ghetto trash

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    ET, 7 Jun 2006 @ 12:01pm

    Better than TV

    This is WAY better than any crap you can follow on TV... Of course, once T-Mobile stops the service on that SIMM card, the story ends... because our friend will no longer have access to the thieves' data.

    Nevetheless... I am so loving this story!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. identicon
    anonymous coward, 7 Jun 2006 @ 12:28pm

    imagine that, a black person with a stolen cell phone. never would have guessed...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Critical Bill, 8 Jun 2006 @ 3:17am

    Moron

    imagine that, the person is not even black, never would have guessed...

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Nipsey Russell, 8 Jun 2006 @ 4:42am

    what seems not to be addressed is that it isnt stolen either. It appers that it was left in a cab where someone else found it. Does that change anything from a legal standpoint?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Critical Bill, 8 Jun 2006 @ 6:10am

    Stolen?

    I lost my X.
    You have admitted to finding my X.
    You are currently using my X.
    I ask, "Please return my X for which I've paid a lot of money."
    You refuse to return my X.

    Substitute "X" for almost anything. We're way past merely "finding".

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 8 Jun 2006 @ 5:54pm

    Re:

    Taking something away that isn't your's and refusing to let the owner have it back isn't stealing? In what country?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Coward 2, 11 Jun 2006 @ 9:06pm

    She does claim that she bought the phone, but buying a 300 to 400 dollar phone for 50 bucks is suspicious and counts as receiving stolen property in almost any state. Not to mention that she refuses to return it after the owner informs her of the theft.

    link to this | view in thread ]


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