Did a robot call and take over my iPhone?
February 11, 2010 12:25 PM Subscribe
I just answered a call from "Unknown number" on my iPhone. (Its my work phone; I sometimes get calls from blocked numbers.) There was silence, followed by three beeps and then the phone made the noise it makes when it is taking a photo, but no photo was saved. That ended the call. What the hell just happened?
Response by poster: You sure it didn't make the noise it makes when you press the sleep/wake button? They're similar noises...
I just compared them, and it may have. Still, what the hell just happened? The phone doesn't make that noise when any other phone call ends.
posted by anastasiav at 12:31 PM on February 11, 2010
I just compared them, and it may have. Still, what the hell just happened? The phone doesn't make that noise when any other phone call ends.
posted by anastasiav at 12:31 PM on February 11, 2010
Best answer: Are you sure? I think it makes the "sleep" noise when you pick up a call from sleep mode and that call hangs up. Mine does, at lease. Just tested it by calling from my office phone...
posted by mr_roboto at 12:33 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by mr_roboto at 12:33 PM on February 11, 2010
The three beeps on my iPhone means the call has ended. I'm not too sure about the camera sound.
Have someone else call your iPhone and then have them hang up on their side. Remain on the line on your iPhone and listen for the three beeps and/or camera shutter sound.
posted by nikkorizz at 12:34 PM on February 11, 2010
Have someone else call your iPhone and then have them hang up on their side. Remain on the line on your iPhone and listen for the three beeps and/or camera shutter sound.
posted by nikkorizz at 12:34 PM on February 11, 2010
Response by poster: I'm pretty sure. I answer calls all day on this phone; have for months. I've never had anything like this happen before. It was alarming.
posted by anastasiav at 12:34 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by anastasiav at 12:34 PM on February 11, 2010
My iPhone (3G) does that a LOT. But I have five different numbers attached to that phone so I get a lot of robot calls that end that way.
Since it's a personal phone, I usually don't answer blocked or 123456789 "numbers". People who really want to reach me know to try again if it's urgent, leave a message if not.
posted by tilde at 12:36 PM on February 11, 2010
Since it's a personal phone, I usually don't answer blocked or 123456789 "numbers". People who really want to reach me know to try again if it's urgent, leave a message if not.
posted by tilde at 12:36 PM on February 11, 2010
Best answer: Yeah. Just tested it again. Three beeps for the end of the call; shutter-like sound for returning to sleep mode.
This is standard behavior, you've just never noticed it before. Probably because you were occupied by having just finished an actual conversation, instead of listening to curious silence.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:37 PM on February 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is standard behavior, you've just never noticed it before. Probably because you were occupied by having just finished an actual conversation, instead of listening to curious silence.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:37 PM on February 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Well, ok. This is kind of embarrassing. At least there are not robots taking over my phone. Thanks.
posted by anastasiav at 12:38 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by anastasiav at 12:38 PM on February 11, 2010
Best answer: Just because you know what this is now doesn't mean there aren't robots taking over your phone, FYI.
posted by davejay at 1:15 PM on February 11, 2010 [25 favorites]
posted by davejay at 1:15 PM on February 11, 2010 [25 favorites]
Response by poster: Awesome, davejay. Thanks. I feel so much better now.
posted by anastasiav at 1:34 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by anastasiav at 1:34 PM on February 11, 2010
Or...somebody has taken advantage of the similarity between the sleep and camera sounds to create an exploit that can take your picture remotely without you noticing ;).
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2010
posted by obiwanwasabi at 3:00 PM on February 11, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by mr_roboto at 12:29 PM on February 11, 2010