Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack [LWN.net]

Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack

Posted Feb 21, 2010 2:26 UTC (Sun) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330)
In reply to: Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack by laf0rge
Parent article: Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack

Some regulatory agencies are likely to insist that end users be prevented from changing the software, to prevent them from doing things that violate regulations (for example, cranking the power level up beyond legal standards; changing the transmission frequency to one that's not approved for that use).

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Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack

Posted Feb 21, 2010 18:31 UTC (Sun) by martinfick (subscriber, #4455) [Link]

I don't see how this is relevant even if it were true. If you own a phone
where you can flash new modems (say an android G1), you obviously already
can modify the modem software and reflash it. Whether you can make sense of
your modifications is another issue entirely. But I think the point is: how
would someone even know you had made any modifications unless you were
"attacking/abusing" the GSM network to which you connect. And surely, if
you were improving the stack, or making your phone more efficient, who would
dream of complaining about that?

Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack

Posted Feb 22, 2010 5:49 UTC (Mon) by JoeBuck (subscriber, #2330) [Link]

It's relevant because it's true. Yes, in theory you can hack your phone's software radio already. But many regulatory agencies demand some form of "tamper resistance" as a condition for approval.

There might be a way to convince the relevant authorities that an open source modem is OK, but don't pretend it isn't an issue just because you think it shouldn't be.

Announcing project OsmocomBB: Open Source GSM Stack

Posted Feb 22, 2010 20:19 UTC (Mon) by martinfick (subscriber, #4455) [Link]

Please explain to me how my HTC Dream ADP is even remotely tamper resistant? All I have to do to modify the modem is load a binary blob, the blobs are available for download on HTC's website and the tools are provided to flash them. It is possible to alter the blob without this being detectable by anyone.

Who said "it wasn't an issue because I thought it shouldn't be"? I simply said that it isn't an issue because it would unlikely be able to be detectable/enforceable unless you cause problems. Granted it would be better if it weren't an issue period, but if I lived my whole life worrying about what is legal and what isn't, I would never be able to live (and neither would anyone). In this particular case, I don't see how it matters much. If you do not cause harm to someone else's network, you will likely never get in trouble (as it should be).

Are you suggesting that the FCC can successfully attack anyone distributing (otherwise legal, i.e. created legally) code that allows someone to modify their phones? I doubt this would be a real concern either, but if so, this development would simply move to saner jurisdictions, this surely is not a global problem (yet).