FAIL: HTC Accidentally Opens Huge Security Hole In Its Own Phones

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Android Police just discovered that recent HTC Android phones such as the Thunderbolt, EVO 3D, the EVO 4G are vulnerable to a huge security hole that leaves emails, GPS locations, and SMS text wide open.

HTC had just updated the devices with a new logging tool, which apparently opened the security hole.

If you use an app on your HTC device that asks for permission to use the internet, you immediately become vulnerable to the app stealing these personal files, Android Police reports:

the list of user accounts, including email addresses and sync status for eachlast known network and GPS locations and a limited previous history of locationsphone numbers from the phone logSMS data, including phone numbers and encoded text (not sure yet if it's possible to decode it, but very likely)system logs (both kernel/dmesg and app/logcat), which includes everything your running apps do and is likely to include email addresses, phone numbers, and other private info

Ordinarily, the android.permission.INTERNET permission would only give the app access to your internet connection, and not to your private files.

Currently, an update from HTC will be the only way to patch the giant hole, unless you decide to root your Android phone and manually remove the "APK" file logging your actions.

Rooting is probably not your best option though if you aren't familiar with the rooting process. Until HTC releases an update for your phone, don't download any nefarious looking apps—especially apps that look suspicious and have just been released.

For the complete report, or to learn which files to remove if you root your device, head over to Android Police.

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UK Minister Accidentally Reveals To The Cameras A Controversial Report On Afghanistan

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Britain's ruthless paparazzi just photographed another top-secret document as Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell walked out of a meeting.

The Daily Mail has more:

Andrew Mitchell was photographed clutching a confidential briefing paper saying Hamid Karzai's decision to step down would improve the country's prospects 'very significantly'.

In a humiliating blunder the International Development Secretary inadvertently displayed the file, marked 'Protect – Policy', as he left a meeting at No?10.

Daily Mail also has photos.

Previously assistant commissioner Bob Quick was photographed with sensitive terror documents, as have other UK politicians.

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BP Accidentally Kills A Polar Bear

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BP's latest PR disaster took place on an Alaska oil field.

A female polar bear was shot to death despite measures meant to prevent fatality.

According to Daily Mail, BP said a Purcell security contractor had spotted the bear near an employee area. When he honked his car horn and flashed the light, the bear refused to leave. Then he shot at the bear with a gun that he supposedly thought was loaded with non-fatal "beanbags." Instead it was loaded with with pyrotechnic "cracker" shellers.

Shot on Aug. 3, the bear died of injuries 8 days later.

A spokesman for the company said: ‘This is not the outcome intended and we feel very bad that this incident has occurred.’

The company recorded 541 polar bear sightings between 2005 and 2010, or which 159 required some "hazing."

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