Post-lunch snooze plans dashed as the UK tests its Emergency Alerts... again
- Reference: 1624362308
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2021/06/22/uk_emergency_alerts_test/
- Source link:
Due to launch for full operation this summer, the government Emergency Alerts system is a messaging platform designed to get information out to as many people as possible as quickly as can be.
"Emergency alerts work like a radio broadcast," the government explained. "In an emergency, mobile phone masts in the surrounding area will broadcast an alert. Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast will receive the alert. You will get alerts based on your current location – not where you live or work."
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Before the system can be rolled out, however, it has to be tested – which is exactly what's going to happen this afternoon at 12:00 UTC in a nationwide experiment. "Some mobile phone networks in the UK are testing emergency alerts between 1pm and 2pm [12:00-13:00 UTC]," the government warned those few souls who sit and refresh the Emergency Alerts planned-test portal.
[2]
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"The alert will say: This is a mobile network operator test of the Emergency Alerts service. You do not need to take any action. To find out more, search for gov.uk/alerts."
[4]Rude awakening for O2 customers after network runs surprise test of emergency mobile alert system
[5]Hawaii governor: I wanted to tell everyone nuke alert was fake – I just forgot my password
[6]Whoa, someone actually texted you in 2020? Oh, nvm, it's just Boris Johnson, telling you to stay the f**k at home
[7]Aussie Emergency Warning Network hacked by rank amateurs
While the test is nationwide, not all devices will be affected. Those with an Apple iPhone in their pocket won't receive anything, despite the alert system being compatible with iOS 14.5 and above, while anyone running Android 11 or higher has "a small chance" of receiving a test alert.
"Your device," the government warned, "may make a loud siren-like sound."
It's a noise which may be familiar to O2 subscribers, whose devices did exactly that during an earlier test – literally, first thing in the morning while subscribers were likely still stirring their coffees – [8]in May this year .
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The wording of the test message is, at least, significantly more reassuring than that used in Hawaii back in 2018 when the US Emergency Alert System (EAS) incorrectly [10]sent out a warning that a "ballistic missile threat" was inbound and citizens should "seek immediate shelter."
Following this afternoon's experiment, the next test of the system is scheduled for 29 June 2021 at the same time, and will trigger both iPhones and Androids in Berkshire.
Those who would prefer to be undisturbed can [11]opt out of lower-severity alerts . ®
Get our [12]Tech Resources
[1] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2YNIJIVvpv3lbYrYjqrsfPwAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YNIJIVvpv3lbYrYjqrsfPwAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33YNIJIVvpv3lbYrYjqrsfPwAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/11/o2_emergency_alert/
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2018/01/24/hawaii_governor_forgot_twitter_password_nuclear_attack/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2020/03/24/uk_coronavirus_advice_texts/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2019/01/08/emergency_warning_network_hacked/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/11/o2_emergency_alert/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/networks&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44YNIJIVvpv3lbYrYjqrsfPwAAAM4&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2018/01/15/hawaiian_missile_warning/
[11] https://www.gov.uk/alerts/opt-out
[12] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Or just opt out completely.
Enjoy the peace while you can. It's only a matter of time until opting out of government messaging is denounced as cancel culture...
Re: Or just opt out completely.
Hum, what about the alert for a large alien spaceship skimming the earth that will hit high ground first...
Re: Or just opt out completely.
Mate, just offer the ship a sheep, like people always used to do throughout the humanity.
Re: Or just opt out completely.
I've had a few hurricane/severe storm/waterspout/twister warnings on my TV and radio in the US. The first scared the stuffing out of me as it hadn't been ovious there was anything coming. Then when the very strong winds and the horizontal but torrential rain started it was horrific.
Missed this afternoons test my feature phone didn't get it at all. My smartphone was on Wifi only because there's no signal on the network that it's on where I'm working. I'm clearly doomed.
Works via mobile reception
So it will have problems reaching those on a west facing beach beneath with no mobile signal. Not good if a piece of the La Palma falls into the sea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumbre_Vieja_tsunami_hazard
"Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
" Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast... " seems rather selective, even if you're not in a zero signal zone and have your phone charged and on all the time. As a disaster warning system, could this really be a surreptitious plan to ensure preferential survival of urban tech fanbois?
They used to have bloody great sirens on long poles, which everyone in reasonable range (typically a mile or so) could hear without any high tech intermediary device. The detail was broadcast by radio on multiple bands so practically anyone could listen in on a massive range of alternative radio sets when alerted by the siren. Much simpler, much more universally accessible, and proven to work many times.
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
You're right, they only want to alert people in good mobile coverage areas. You don't have to be in range of 'a mast', but rather 'a 4G or 5G mast'
https://www.gov.uk/alerts/how-alerts-work
> Mobile phone networks
> Emergency alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK.
> Phones and tablets connected to a 2G or 3G network will not receive emergency alerts.
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
Phones and tablets connected to a 2G or 3G network will not receive emergency alerts.
Why not? I thought emergency alerts was the new non-specific anxiety-inducing name for the old cell broadcast, which we all had on our chocolate-bar Nokias.
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
Almost nobody that matters is on a 2G/3G phone.
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
Let us not debate that, rather let us debate why should they be excluded if emergency alerts use cell broadcast and cell broadcast is a standard since GSM started.
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
> rather let us debate why should they be excluded if emergency alerts
Because you aren't worth marketing to
I'm assuming emergency alerts will soon be sponsored by Amazon
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
Sorry, I only have a 3G phone and I matter (to me at least) It does what I need and does it well (voice, text, email, basic web) I couldn't care less about super download speeds or any other sh!t. I certainly don't need no Google or Apple sh!t, tracking me, following me, analysing me.
Though as I also use a 4G data dongle I can happily state that 4G in reality is no faster than 3G.
Re: "Every compatible mobile phone or tablet in range of a mast ..."
Many phones for older people are 2G, my grandfather had one of these: [1]Doro 1360
Though I guess not alerting them to danger is entirely consistent with gov.uk's modus operandi.
[1] https://www.gsmchoice.com/en/catalogue/doro/1360/
Got an emergency alert years ago for a flood
London flood defences worked as planned: they raised the level of the canal upstream (where I live) so London was safe. The canal level rose until it overflowed into the river (which flows back into the canal further down stream). The alert meant I went out to look at the really long waterfall over the tow path. It looked very cool. They need not bother with the alert again. 30 hours of continuous rain sends a clear message by itself.
First I've heard of this
Not a peep out of my phone, and I have it set to inform me of all emergency alerts.
Re: First I've heard of this
I think the key word in the article was 'some'.
Re: First I've heard of this
Mine has also been quiet; although I have a UK sim and a UK service provider, I live in DE so I suspect I was out of range.
--> the one with the dual-sim phone in the pocket, obviously.
Re: First I've heard of this
I read it was being sent to people in the Reading area.
Re: First I've heard of this
Emergency Alert - you are in Reading
Re: First I've heard of this
OMG, what do I do now?
Re: First I've heard of this
Proceed in a calm fashion to the nearest exit. Then run like hell.
Re: First I've heard of this
>Proceed in a calm fashion to the nearest exit. Then run like hell.
But not toward Basingstoke
What about those of us who only get WiFi Calling?
Will we "be informed", or do we have to wait until the zombies swarm past the windows?
Re: What about those of us who only get WiFi Calling?
You'll be waiting a while. Apparently you can't be attacked by Zombies in Reading any more and have to go to Basingstoke now...
Well, I guess this may come in handy once that Quidshop Churchill Wannabe starts a war all Grand Fenwick style.
Err, Grand Fenwick won.
Easy Opt-out...
At least it's easy to opt out - for a very large number of people, just do nothing... the fact that they are not using an iOS 14.5+ or Android 11+ device, and/or aren't connected to a 4G/5G network will do the trick!
As already pointed out, radio/TV aletts and large outdoor speakers would be far more effective, social media would do the rest. Probably much cheaper and more reliable too.
Re: Easy Opt-out...
social media would do the rest
We're doomed: remember Orson Wells and the War of the Worlds? Now think of that shared by Fæcesbook.
Re: Easy Opt-out...
remember Orson Wells and the War of the Worlds? Now think of that shared by Fæcesbook.
A significant number of FB denizens would be posting about how they were anally probed by the Martians.
That's alright, because the first time I get one of those, my 4G SIM goes into the 4G router I can carry in my pocket and my phone goes into wifi only / no-SIM mode.
Still get data, still get texts, can still make calls (VoIP, etc.) but won't be bothered by other people's "tests", alerts or anything else because the router literally doesn't have a method to alert me (no speaker).
If you keep it for absolute and targeted emergencies, we're good. If we start getting that "wake the entire nation at 3am because of a vulnerable adult who's gone on a bus ride on their own" nonsense like America get, you can alert the inside of a silicon chip as far as I'm concerned.
Isn't it easier to disable the option if you don't want it?
Or just opt out completely.
"If you opt out because you do not want flood warnings, for example, you might miss alerts for fires and terrorism"
Well I live on a bloody great hill in a small village, so unless we're going to get alerts for sheep (or more likely deer) on the road, I'll take my chances thanks.