Nature of the OTA Software Update

[mikeloo]

Dear Note 7 Alliance moderators,

I am new to the forum.

I am wondering how does an Over-The-Air (OTA) software update work, like the battery killing update.

Is it some constant broadcast that is always on for a period of time? Such that if one were to expose the Note 7 unprotected by package disablers or the Shield by switching on wifi or connecting to mobile network via the SIM Card, that this would allow the OTA to begin?

I have used the Solid Explorer and S Package Disabler. Did not use SIM Card on phone. Everytime I enabled wifi, a notification will say "Unfortunately, software update has stopped". Does this indicate that a battery killing OTA Software update broadcast is active? If this notification does not appear, does this mean that the OTA broadcast is no longer active and not a threat?

I gather from the forum thread that the Shield stops the notification. If the notification is stopped, how would we know that the threat of the software update is no longer present?

Hope the above question is not confusing.

Thank you. Regards.
Mikeloo

[novares]

I'm a bit confused as to what you're asking but if you're asking if the methods put in place to stop updates are constantly broadcasting a signal and/or draining your battery or running in the background constantly then the answer is no. Old package disabler is are seeming to fail here and there but not for everyon. Some people are getting license issues thus making it so that packages cannot be successfully enabled or disabled. Although it is not required to ensure safety it is our recommendation that you factory reset your phone or reverse the methods previously put in place and then secure yourself with the Alliance Shield. If you require any additional help please let us know.

[mikeloo]

Thank you very much for the reply and good explanations. I was just curious as to how network carriers push phone firmware updates to phones. Say if a network carrier started pushing out the battery killing update today, does the push signal remain on for a period of time, say days or months. Just trying to understand.

Overall, the forum has been very informative and the topics well categorized, making it easier to search for specific topics of interest. A very good effort by the creators and moderators to help a lot of people. The participants have been great as well. As for this thread, I have concluded my questions for this topic at this juncture.

Best regards.

[beowulf381]

7600 Thank you very much for the reply and good explanations. I was just curious as to how network carriers push phone firmware updates to phones. Say if a network carrier started pushing out the battery killing update today, does the push signal remain on for a period of time, say days or months. Just trying to understand.

Overall, the forum has been very informative and the topics well categorized, making it easier to search for specific topics of interest. A very good effort by the creators and moderators to help a lot of people. The participants have been great as well. As for this thread, I have concluded my questions for this topic at this juncture.

Best regards.

The detection of your phone depends on your region and/or carrier. Some updates are pushed from samsung directly, while others (esp. in the US) come from the carriers (developed together with samsung).
So everytime your phone has an internet connection with WIFI and/or mobile data, it connects to the command and control servers of samsung / carriers, so they know you are online (if you don't prevent this by locking them out). This is working similar to a computer hit by a trojan malware and misused by the malware programmers to push further parts of the malware to your computer and built a botnet then with the infected ones.

But for the note 7(and other phones for sure too) the first part of the malware that connects to the command and control servers is already built-in and delivered from stock. In the world of IT we'll call it a backdoor. They are already "infected" if you get it delivered. At normal conditions, most users will feel good with this, cause they want to get the newest updates as fast as possible. But for the note 7 it is misused by samsung and carriers to push and install a real malware, the kill update. And then they lie to you and say it would be only for your safety.

You have to take into consideration that the already built-in backdoors can (an maybe will) used for other unwanted things, for example monitoring and transferring all of your information and content. This is really illegal, but companies like samsung don't care if they are doing illegal things at all. Cause they are so big they feel they can do what they want no matter of the law. Unfortunally, some carriers support them doing this.
You cannot trust them at all.