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News about a recently discovered security hole in the new
iPhone’s software were received with great interest, as the flaw apparently
exposes the e-mail, voice messages and text to anyone accessing the device even
if the password-protection is activated.
In order to access the information, one must select the
emergency call and double-click the ‘home’ button; these actions bring up
iPhone 2.0.2’s favorites, opening the address book, the dial keypad and voice
mail. In addition to this, by clicking the blue arrows found by the names you
can access private information in a favorite entry, by clicking a mail address allows
access to the mail application, by clicking on a URL from the contact
information opens up Safari and finally, by clicking on ‘send a text message’
provides complete access to the text message directory.
Out of all the actions mentioned above, Apple only mentions
in its advisory the emergency call: "The Passcode Lock feature is designed
to prevent applications from being launched unless the correct passcode is
entered. An implementation issue in the handling of emergency calls allows
users with physical access to an iPhone to launch an application without the
passcode. This update addresses the issue through an improved check on the
state of the Passcode Lock."
Even though the flaw does not provide complete access to the
device, it is still enough for a potential attacker to cause a significant
amount of problems with costly data charges and also the access to important
and valuable personal information.
As expected, Apple did not rush with an official statement
and the company’s response is still awaited by many of its clients. Gizmodo
notes on its Web site that a fix is currently in development but until then
worried iPhone users can solve the problem by changing the phone’s general
settings. All it takes is to switch the destination of the ‘home’ button to the
actual Home screen, which demands the passcode to access, or the iPod function,
which does not access the phone features.
The flaw represents the latest issue linked to the new 3G
iPhone in a long list of problems recorded since its launch. The most delicate
of all the complaints is the one about the smartphone’s connection instability
which leads to a series of problems with the users’ calls. Many reported interruptions
during their conversations and even dropped calls. At the time, Apple’s US
carrier, AT&T, backed up its partner and released a statement through its
spokesman Michael Coe, saying that the iPhone’s performance, just like any
other device’s, is directly linked to a series of factors such as the proximity
of the user to a cell tower and interference from buildings and trees. Also, to
further strengthen the company’s position he concluded that "Overall, the
new iPhone is performing just great on our 3G network."
The interest in dropped calls is significantly smaller now
and the current problem, if handled in the near future as expected, will also be
put behind. We’ll just have to see what other good or bad news on the iPhone
come up over the next few weeks.
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