Yesterday we brought you a report about a flaw in the iOS 6.1 update, which allowed anyone to bypass an iPhone's password protected lockscreen in just a few steps. Today, Apple has announced that it is working on a fix that should prevent that hack and make iPhones safe from tampering once again.
An Apple statement to CNET today said, "Apple takes user security very seriously. We are aware of this issue, and will deliver a fix in a future software update." No details were given for when the fix would be available.
The iPhone hack involves 2 major steps, each with a few easy to remember button sequences, to unlock a password protected iPhone. Videos on YouTube showed that the hack can be done in as little as about 30 seconds, leaving iPhones open for the hacker to make calls, look at contact data, and more.
Apple has been having a bug problem with its new iOS 6.1 ever since it came out. First there were problems with connectivity between iPhone 4S phones and some European carriers, resulting in dropped calls and sometimes a sustained inability to wirelessly connect at all.
Other problems with the iOS 6.1 update included corporate Exchange server compatibility, where some users' iPhones would continuously try to refresh and reload the server, resulting in overtaxed servers and short battery life for the handsets. Some corporations went as far as banning iOS 6.1 devices for the time being, because their servers were being crippled by the bug, meaning no one else could arrange meetings, etc. Apple has addressed the iPhone 4S problem with a release of iOS 6.1.1, but only for those select handset models. You can bet a fix for the lockscreen hack will be in the next update, if not sooner.
Via Ubergizmo
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
