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Yet another iPhone security bug

Just when you thought your iPhone was more secure than ever, you might want to think again. Programmer Karl Kraft's 12-year-old son was the one to uncover the security risk of the iPhone displaying text messages while in emergency call mode.

With the iPhone locked with a passcode and text message previews disabled, you can still see an incoming text message while you are in the emergency call mode.

The iPhone should just show the generic "New Text Message" preview, but instead it will show the part of the message (or whole message if it's short enough), and sender information.

You can get the full details on this bug, and screenshots of the iPhone from Karl's blog. Now we must sit and wait for Apple to fix it. Hopefully this won't take as long as implementing copy/paste for the iPhone.


[via Ars Technica]

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Security iPhone

Just when you thought your iPhone was more secure than ever, you might want to think again. Programmer Karl Kraft's 12-year-old son was the...
 

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teeth weasel

Cory, I'm not sure what I love more - your inability to understand the things you're posting, or your absolutely impeccable ability to generate FUD out of nothing. Good show!

October 07 2008 at 9:32 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iPhone Boy

My first gen iPhone has been the most stable of all mobiles and smart phones I have had over the last 10 years. If you give a phone to a 12 year old, expect trouble!

http://www.simplyfreeiphone.co.uk

October 07 2008 at 3:28 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
antiorario

The real problem here is that a 12-year-old has his own private iPhone, which he's allowed to lock with a passcode from his parents in order to communicate with his "girlfriend."

Ah, where's this world going?

;-)

October 07 2008 at 3:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jash Sayani

These small things keep coming up... Apple has not given importance to such minor details..... which he must! Hope its fixed in firmware 2.2 and none of the older bugs re-appear !!!!

October 06 2008 at 11:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
roger

"Your iPhone is insecure." My iPhone feels pretty self assured of itself, maybe it can talk to that iPhone, help it out.

October 06 2008 at 10:30 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kakapo

This is only a security bug if you are Shane Warne and you have oh so too many SMSs from your current honey!

For the rest of us, all you need to do is set your preferences and then set a locking code if you need. My iPhone is never out of my sight or hands, (OK - it is when I am sleeping - but that is another story) so I can't see this as a problem.

If you don't know who Shane Warne is then you will realise that you really do not know sports on a global basis.

To the rest of us that do, we will get a great laugh at the inside joke. ;)

October 06 2008 at 7:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Snap

FUD. Next.

October 06 2008 at 7:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
justin

As it was said, this can be disabled in the options.

October 06 2008 at 7:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to justin's comment
Michael

which apparently didn't work in karls case (see his blogpost)
Anyway, a rather minor flaw imho

October 07 2008 at 1:57 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
BldrSun

Not only is this not a security issue nor a bug, Cory's decision to conclude with copy/paste snark makes this one of the most annoying TUAW posts I've read in a long time.

Anyone else getting tired of TUAW's and Engadet's penchant for harping about copy/paste? Alright already... We get it! You want copy/paste. Now let's move on, please. I don't need to read about it over and over again.

October 06 2008 at 7:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
TouchPodium.com

How is _this_ Breaking News?...

October 06 2008 at 6:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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