Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers with false calls

Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by andsoitis on Monday June 26, 2023 @07:23PM (#36487173)

>> That was a fun night when the dead phone woke up and started dialling 112 repeatedly and there was nothing I could do short of smashing the damn thing with a hammer to stop it.

> Just put it in a Faraday cage. Problem solved.

Even if I don't have a hammer handy, I could probably find something in the middle of the night to smash the thing. A Faraday cage on the other hand...

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by j-bos on Monday June 26, 2023 @07:54PM (#36487410)

Not sure your kitchen situation, but most homes have a microwave. Shouldn't that work?

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by fomine3 on Monday June 26, 2023 @08:04PM (#36487486)

There are many frequency bands used by phone, I'm not sure everything is blocked by microwave.

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by bagels on Tuesday June 27, 2023 @12:12AM (#36488811)

I tested this. My phone does indeed have a network connection in the microwave.

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by peanut-walrus on Monday June 26, 2023 @08:05PM (#36487488)

Tried that. Didn't work.

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by andsoitis on Monday June 26, 2023 @09:22PM (#36487930)

Do I need to turn on the microwave with the phone inside it? This is an honest question because I don't know anything about microwave signals (I could google/research), but my instinct tells me I probably shouldn't turn on the microwave with the phone inside it, though I don't know for sure what will happen (explode?)

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by tomrod on Monday June 26, 2023 @09:49PM (#36488052)

Don't microwave electronics

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by cratermoon on Monday June 26, 2023 @10:00PM (#36488126)

Never. Never. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAImzF2fYOs

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by oceliker on Monday June 26, 2023 @09:55PM (#36488094)

No, a Faraday cage does not require power (just grounding).

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by mannykannot on Monday June 26, 2023 @11:09PM (#36488438)

Grounding is not necessary in this case, where we are dealing with EM radiation, not static charges.

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by copperx on Tuesday June 27, 2023 @10:54AM (#36493764)

Why would it need grounding? Are you thinking of static electricity?

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by saalweachter on Monday June 26, 2023 @10:58PM (#36488390)

What about tin foil?

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by makeitdouble on Monday June 26, 2023 @08:36PM (#36487687)

I wonder if it shouldn't be a thing we keep handy. Like a foldable Faraday cage (bag ?) big enough to fit a laptop that can be whiped out in case of emergency.

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Re:Android’s emergency call shortcut is flooding dispatchers... by jonhohle on Monday June 26, 2023 @10:30PM (#36488250)

They definitely make Faraday cage bags that are about as thick as heavy mil trash bags. Depending on the issue (EMP?) you may need to double bag if primitive YouTube experiments are anything to go by (basically, does the phone ring/radio receive once it's enclosed).

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