• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
Spotted News
  • News
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Opinion
  • Lottery
  • More
    • Gaming
    • Videos
    • Property
    • Business
    • Sport
    • Animals & Wildlife
No Result
View All Result
Spotted News
No Result
View All Result

Home » News » Govt’s emergency alert test was – as expected – a farce! Alarming reactions

Govt’s emergency alert test was – as expected – a farce! Alarming reactions

There is also now a concern about a spoof attack could be easily launched.

Politics Reporter by Politics Reporter
April 24, 2023
in News, Politics
ADVERTISEMENT
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Millions of people across the UK received the first-ever nationwide test of the government’s new emergency alert system yesterday at 3pm, but a LOT of people didn’t, which was kind of the point.

While the alert was scheduled to go out at 3pm, some people said they did not receive the notification, while others reported the alert arriving early or late.

Professor of telecommunications, Nigel Linge, said the failure was to be expected.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Linge said: “You can only do so much in the labaratory to see if something is going to work.

You might also like

President Donald Trump.

Watch: Trump says it’s “strange” people hate Russia – here’s 7 savage responses that nailed it

June 13, 2025
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

Watch: ‘Soldier on the moon’ blunder by Trump’s Army Secretary sends internet into orbit

June 13, 2025

“This is why we test fire alarms in buildings when there are no fires.

“It is not unusual that a test of this type did not work perfectly. That is what you expect. I don’t think anyone in the mobile phone industry would be surprised that it wasn’t perfect.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Mobile network Three

The mobile network Three said it was investigating why many of its users failed to receive an emergency alert from the government, the first nationwide test for the UK’s new national warning system.

They tweeted: “We’re aware that a number of customers have not received the test alert. We’re working closely with the government to understand why and ensure it doesn’t happen when the system is in use.”

We're aware that a number of customers have not received the test alert.
We're working closely with the government to understand why and ensure it doesn't happen when the system is in use.

— Three UK (@ThreeUK) April 23, 2023

It disrupted the snooker THREE times!

ADVERTISEMENT

Not once 😅
Not twice 🤨
But three times 😤

🚨 The emergency alert was definitely bringing some disruption to the Crucible @WeAreWST | #WorldSnookerChampionship pic.twitter.com/Fn8plNiTOM

— Eurosport (@eurosport) April 23, 2023

What did text say?

Well if you didn’t get it, then this is what it said…

Severe Alert

This is a test of Emergency Alerts, a new UK government service that will warn you if there’s a life-threatening emergency nearby.

In a real emergency, follow the instructions in the alert to keep yourself and others safe.

Visit gov.uk/alerts for more information.

This is a test. You do not need to take any action.

Spoof attack

There is also now a concern about a spoof attack, as a paper published by US scientists back in 2019 has resurfaced online after it claimed such a system used by governments to warn its citizens of an “imminent risk to life” could be hit with a spoof attack, reports the Indy100.

The University of Colorado Boulder researchers wrote: “Our attack can be performed using a commercially-available software defined radio, and our modifications to the open source NextEPC and srsLTE software libraries.

“We find that with only four malicious portable base stations of a single Watt of transmit power each, almost all of a 50,000-seat stadium can be attacked with a 90 per cent success rate.”

They also note it all depends on the “density of cell phones in range” However, that spoof alerts in such a crowded space could “potentially result in cascades of panic”.

Reactions

1.

Hmmm. Not sure this would be helpful in an emergency. pic.twitter.com/AZhzoLpQeX

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) April 23, 2023

2.

🚨 BREAKING: Govt hail alert test as “success” and say they’ll now be able to inform the nation the instant a Brexit benefit is found.

— Mike Galsworthy (@mikegalsworthy) April 23, 2023

3.

My UK phone got the emergency alert earlier. I hope you’re all ok over there. pic.twitter.com/VJRhwLa8Ws

— Michael Fry (@BigDirtyFry) April 23, 2023

4.

Phone all ready for the #emergencyalert cos over my dead body will George Soros warn me about a danger to my life. pic.twitter.com/9sYOAL0rA1

— Brendan May (@bmay) April 23, 2023

5.

Just hit snooze. You can alert me again in nine minutes.

— Jason (@NickMotown) April 23, 2023

6.

🎶I’m too sexy for alerts🎶 pic.twitter.com/y14KQXhrbo

— Mnrrntt (@mnrrntt) April 23, 2023

7.

Me when the alert came through at 2:59pm and not 3pm #EmergencyAlert pic.twitter.com/DS3ZLhdLsw

— . (@toops99) April 23, 2023

8.

F@@@@@@@@@ck!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/F04tutSCxa

— The Jase 🐶 🎸 🎥 (@jasemonkey) April 23, 2023

9.

excited for the DM stories about ‘emergency alert chaos’ which won’t even match the time people freaked out over KFC shortages

— Toby Earle 🇺🇦 Threads tobyontv (@TobyonTV) April 23, 2023

10.

The emergency alert went off when I was in the pub and everyone was so listless and grey about it. Sorry, emergency alert, you're not exactly the new Beatles!

— Sooz Kempner (@SoozUK) April 23, 2023

11.

DIDN'T GET THE EMERGENCY ALARM IM OFFICIALLY UNDER THE RADAR I CAN DO ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T TOUCH ME

— TechnicallyRon (On all the platforms) (@TechnicallyRon) April 23, 2023

12.

OMG RIGHT SAID FRED WAS RIGHT TURN OFF YOUR PHONES BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE I FEEL SICK AND WRONG SINCE THE BUZZER AND

oh sorry it was just trapped wind

— Dr Philip Lee (@drphiliplee1) April 23, 2023

13.

If your phone didn't get an emergency alert, does that mean you're immune to intercontinental ballistic missiles, or you need to get an upgrade?

— HENRY MORRIS (@mrhenrymorris) April 23, 2023

14.

⚠️ EMERGENCY NHS ALERT pic.twitter.com/UPrNDOG6DK

— NHS Workers Say NO! (@NurseSayNO) April 23, 2023

15.

So why did the Tories decide to *invest* in an Emergency Alert system now?

Oh! One of the biggest investors in US company Everbridge that helped build the UK's alert system is BlackRock…

Quick google later. F**king Russian Tory donors! 🚨#emergencyalert pic.twitter.com/E4A6CINyTT

— Cami 🕊️ (@Cami_bekind) April 23, 2023

Related: Wrexham: Some players’ make NSFW feelings about Tories…& it’s not the first time!

Tags: Emergency phone alert
Politics Reporter

Politics Reporter

Latest Posts

President Donald Trump.
News

Watch: Trump says it’s “strange” people hate Russia – here’s 7 savage responses that nailed it

by Joe Connor
June 13, 2025
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.
News

Watch: ‘Soldier on the moon’ blunder by Trump’s Army Secretary sends internet into orbit

by Joe Connor
June 13, 2025
Question Time audience member hits out at Reform ‘BS’.
News

Watch: Question Time audience member destroys Reform UK with viral Brexit takedown

by Joe Connor
June 13, 2025
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.
News

Liz Truss 2.0? Badenoch’s latest unfunded pledge is giving déjà vu

by Joe Connor
June 13, 2025
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

© spottednews.com All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Gaming
    • Sport
    • Animals & Wildlife
    • Property
    • Business
    • Videos
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

© spottednews.com All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Gaming
    • Sport
    • Animals & Wildlife
    • Property
    • Business
    • Videos
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

© spottednews.com All Rights Reserved.