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August 27th, 2008

Major security hole found in iPhone

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 7:24 am

Categories: Software, Security, iPhone

Tags: Apple iPhone, Text Messaging/SMS/MMS, Telephony, Security, Viruses And Worms, Cellular Phones, Consumer Electronics, Personal Technology, Online Communications, Networking

Gizmodo has unearthed a security flaw in the iPhone OS and boy is it a doozy. According to the post it’s simple to access a locked iPhone’s address book, Mail, SMS, Contacts, and Safari.

The vulnerability works like this on a password protected and locked iPhone:

  • Then slide to unlock
  • Tap emergency call
  • Double tap the home button

This give you access to the iPhone’s favorites, the Address Book, the dial keypad and your voice mail. And it gets worse.

Tapping on the blue arrows next to the names gives you full access to the information in a favorite. Tapping an email address gives you access to the Mail application. Tapping a URL in a contact provides full access to Safari. Tapping send text message gives access to all your SMS’.

Um, this is bad. Especially when the phone is supposed to be locked. Apple, let’s get iPhone 2.0.3 out the door ASAP, m’kay?

Jason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here.
  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 66 Talkback(s)
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone
Please tell me some good VoIP enabled mobile phone.I am using Vyke for making national and international calls(as well as sms) through VoIP.Its very cheap.You people can also use it and get the benifi... (Read the rest)
Posted by: sayhi2shefali Posted on: 11/12/08 You are currently: Logged In | Log out
what else is new ? zero7404   | 08/27/08
wow just wow ChrisOPeterson   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone Loverock Davidson   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone madhu@...   | 08/27/08
whose fault? lumpy_blumpkin   | 08/27/08
The risk Me-Firsters take NotMSUser   | 08/27/08
This is the second generation iPhone! ShadeTree   | 08/28/08
Research before buying... Judson01   | 08/27/08
What? NtroP   | 08/27/08
I'll buy your phone for $199.00 U.S deowll   | 08/29/08
I don't own a iPhone... RicD_   | 08/27/08
Although I agree mostly... laura.b   | 08/27/08
You are correct, but a little off the mark Cayble   | 08/29/08
All other phones are perfect. Only iPhone is bad. mlindl   | 09/25/08
Workaround frgough   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone chadpengar   | 08/27/08
Sure... laura.b   | 08/27/08
iHole iJim   | 08/27/08
Realy? NtroP   | 08/27/08
Good ideal John Zern   | 08/27/08
Opps, That was meant a reply to frgough's "workaround" <nt> John Zern   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone HelpMeNow   | 08/27/08
Not for WinMo or Palm OS Aragorn_z   | 08/27/08
Research much? NtroP   | 08/27/08
I was responding to a prior comment Aragorn_z   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone dhirajkashyap   | 08/27/08
It works... jmiller1978   | 08/27/08
Security Hole? ManoaHI   | 08/27/08
Did Microsoft buy Apple? HypnoToad   | 08/27/08
Nope - just a lot more attention...nt USTechHead   | 08/27/08
omg NIGHTMARE! paferg   | 08/27/08
Passwords without encryption is useless... jmiller1978   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone I_Byte   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone I_Byte   | 08/27/08
Citation needed NtroP   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone m@...   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone m@...   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone larryl1234   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone PseudoTechie27   | 08/27/08
But the iPhone is Soooo far from perfect... DigitalFrog   | 08/27/08
Keep up. NtroP   | 08/27/08
Then... DigitalFrog   | 08/28/08
You are right that it is a carrier problem... deowll   | 08/29/08
Speaking too soon? GoneFromZDnet   | 08/29/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone wecandobiz   | 08/27/08
Doesn't work on 3g rambilly   | 08/27/08
diplomacy mickie564   | 08/27/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone Leo.Kuznetsov@...   | 08/27/08
No, it's a security hole... jmiller1978   | 08/28/08
I see the iPhone is following in the footsteps of giants... Scrat   | 08/28/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone dwnemeth@...   | 08/28/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone etsd   | 08/28/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone etsd   | 08/28/08
Simple Fix: Don't lose your iPhone GoneFromZDnet   | 08/28/08
Is it nice? laura.b   | 08/28/08
Very nice GoneFromZDnet   | 08/28/08
Good to know laura.b   | 08/28/08
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh GoneFromZDnet   | 08/28/08
Wow laura.b   | 09/02/08
No....Thank you GoneFromZDnet   | 09/04/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone Kreuzer33   | 08/28/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone catatized   | 08/28/08
Not my phone- GSavage777   | 08/28/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone amin_adatia   | 08/29/08
Not a bug -- its by intent wellduh   | 09/08/08
RE: Major security hole found in iPhone sayhi2shefali   | 11/12/08

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