The security flaw in Apple's iOS operating system came to light as the website www.jailbreakme.com released code that Apple customers can use to modify the iOS operating system through a process known as "jail breaking."
Some Apple customers choose to jail break their devices so they can download and run applications that are not approved by Apple or use iPhone phones on networks of carriers that are not approved by Apple.
Security experts warned that criminal hackers could download that code, reverse engineer it to identify a hole in iOS security and build a piece of malicious software within a few days.
"If you are a malicious attacker, it is fairly doable," said Patrik Runald, a senior researcher with the Internet security firm Websense.
Apple has yet to release an update to iOS that protects customers against malicious software that exploits the flaw.
Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the company was aware of the problem. "We are developing a fix that will be available to customers in an upcoming software update," Muller said.
Apple has long been vocal against jail breaking, which if done voids the warranty on its devices. Any security flaw in iOS software -- which runs Apple's iPhone, iPad tablet and iPod Touch -- has the potential to affect millions of devices that are at the core of Apple's business.
Apple has sold 25 million iPads since it launched last year. The company sold over 18 million of its popular iPhones in just the first three months of the year.
Hackers can exploit the iOS vulnerability by creating a malicious PDF document file. It would infect Apple devices when users attempt to open that document, according to Runald.
Once the device is infected, hackers could "do anything they want," Runald said. That includes stealing passwords, documents and emails.
Comex, a 19-year-old hacker from New York State who developed the jail-breaking tool, said that Apple might be able to patch the software before criminal hackers develop software that exploits the bug.
Last time he put out a version of his jailbreaking software, Apple was able to issue a patch before anybody exploited the bug for malicious purposes.
He said that Apple might not be able to move quickly enough this time. "It's not that hard to reverse engineer," he said via telephone.
SOURCE:TIMES OF INDIA
The security flaw in Apple's iOS operating system came to light as the website www.jailbreakme.com released code that Apple customers can use to modify the iOS operating system through a process known as "jail breaking."
Some Apple customers choose to jail break their devices so they can download and run applications that are not approved by Apple or use iPhone phones on networks of carriers that are not approved by Apple.
Security experts warned that criminal hackers could download that code, reverse engineer it to identify a hole in iOS security and build a piece of malicious software within a few days.
"If you are a malicious attacker, it is fairly doable," said Patrik Runald, a senior researcher with the Internet security firm Websense.
Apple has yet to release an update to iOS that protects customers against malicious software that exploits the flaw.
Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said the company was aware of the problem. "We are developing a fix that will be available to customers in an upcoming software update," Muller said.
Apple has long been vocal against jail breaking, which if done voids the warranty on its devices. Any security flaw in iOS software -- which runs Apple's iPhone, iPad tablet and iPod Touch -- has the potential to affect millions of devices that are at the core of Apple's business.
Apple has sold 25 million iPads since it launched last year. The company sold over 18 million of its popular iPhones in just the first three months of the year.
Hackers can exploit the iOS vulnerability by creating a malicious PDF document file. It would infect Apple devices when users attempt to open that document, according to Runald.
Once the device is infected, hackers could "do anything they want," Runald said. That includes stealing passwords, documents and emails.
Comex, a 19-year-old hacker from New York State who developed the jail-breaking tool, said that Apple might be able to patch the software before criminal hackers develop software that exploits the bug.
Last time he put out a version of his jailbreaking software, Apple was able to issue a patch before anybody exploited the bug for malicious purposes.
He said that Apple might not be able to move quickly enough this time. "It's not that hard to reverse engineer," he said via telephone.
SOURCE:TIMES OF INDIA
| Category 1 - Global Mobile App Awards | |
| App of the Year on the Apple Platform | |
| Rovio / Clickgamer/Chillingo for Angry Birds | |
| App of the Year on the BlackBerry® App World Platform | |
| Research In Motion for BlackBerry Messenger | |
| App of the Year on the Android Platform | |
| Google for Google Maps | |
| App of the Year on the Nokia Platform | |
| Herocraft & InnerActive for Zum Zum | |
| Best Mobile App | |
| Rovio / Clickgamer/Chillingo for Angry Birds | |
| Category 2 - Mobile Advertising & Marketing | |
| Best Mobile Advertising & Marketing Campaign | |
| Mobilera - Outeractive for Unilever Cornetto Multiplayer Interactive Wall Projection Mapping Game | |
| Category 3 - Best Mobile Business & Enterprise | |
| Best Mobile Enterprise Product or Solution | |
| Antenna for Antenna Mobility Platform (AMP) | |
| Best Mobile Money Product or Solution | |
| Airtel Africa, MasterCard Worldwide and Standard Chartered Bank for Airtel Card | |
| Category 4 - Social & Economic Development | |
| Best use of Mobile for Social & Economic Development | |
| Ericsson and Flexenclosure for Ericsson Community Power | |
| Best Mobile Money for the Unbanked Service | |
| Vodafone Group, Safaricom, Vodacom, Vodafone Essar Limited and Roshan Ltd for M-PESA | |
| Best Product, Initiative or Service for Underserved Segment | |
| BBC World Service Trust for BBC Janala | |
| Category 5 - Mobile Innovation | |
| Best M-Health Innovation | |
| Mobisante Inc for MobiUS | |
| Best Mobile Learning Innovation | |
| Urban Planet Mobile and PT Telkomsel for Urban English, Mobile English Learning Initiative | |
| Best Mobile Innovation for Utilities | |
| EDMI and Sierra Wireless for EDMI EWM100 Advanced GSM/GPRS Modem for Smart Metering Applications | |
| Best Mobile Innovation for Automotive & Transport | |
| Nissan Motor, AT&T, NTT DOCOMO, and Telenor Connexion for ICT for Electric Vehicles | |
| Best Embedded Mobile Device (Non-Handsets) | |
| AT&T and VITALITY, Inc for AT&T-connected Vitality GlowCaps | |
| Category 6 - Green Mobile Award | |
| Green Mobile Award for Best Green Product/Service or Performance | |
| Bharti Infratel for GreenTowers P7 Project | |
| Category 7 - Best Mobile Devices | |
| Best Mobile Device | |
| Apple for iPhone 4 | |
| Device Manufacturer of the Year | |
| HTC | |
| Category 8 - Best Technology | |
| Best Mobile Broadband Technology | |
| Ruckus Wireless for Ruckus Mobile Wi-Fi Gateway System | |
| Best Mobile Technology for Emerging Markets | |
| Orange for Orange solar base station programme | |
| Best Technology Breakthrough | |
| Seven Networks for SEVEN Open Channel | |
| Best Customer Care & CRM | |
| Airtel Africa and Tango Telecom for Tango Telecom's 'Dynamic Pricing Service' | |
| Category 9 - Outstanding Achievement Awards | |
| GSMA Chairman's Award | |
| Dr. Wang Jianzhou, Chairman, China Mobile | |
| Government Leadership Award | |
| Government of Afghanistan | |
| Category 1 - Global Mobile App Awards | |
| App of the Year on the Apple Platform | |
| Rovio / Clickgamer/Chillingo for Angry Birds | |
| App of the Year on the BlackBerry® App World Platform | |
| Research In Motion for BlackBerry Messenger | |
| App of the Year on the Android Platform | |
| Google for Google Maps | |
| App of the Year on the Nokia Platform | |
| Herocraft & InnerActive for Zum Zum | |
| Best Mobile App | |
| Rovio / Clickgamer/Chillingo for Angry Birds | |
| Category 2 - Mobile Advertising & Marketing | |
| Best Mobile Advertising & Marketing Campaign | |
| Mobilera - Outeractive for Unilever Cornetto Multiplayer Interactive Wall Projection Mapping Game | |
| Category 3 - Best Mobile Business & Enterprise | |
| Best Mobile Enterprise Product or Solution | |
| Antenna for Antenna Mobility Platform (AMP) | |
| Best Mobile Money Product or Solution | |
| Airtel Africa, MasterCard Worldwide and Standard Chartered Bank for Airtel Card | |
| Category 4 - Social & Economic Development | |
| Best use of Mobile for Social & Economic Development | |
| Ericsson and Flexenclosure for Ericsson Community Power | |
| Best Mobile Money for the Unbanked Service | |
| Vodafone Group, Safaricom, Vodacom, Vodafone Essar Limited and Roshan Ltd for M-PESA | |
| Best Product, Initiative or Service for Underserved Segment | |
| BBC World Service Trust for BBC Janala | |
| Category 5 - Mobile Innovation | |
| Best M-Health Innovation | |
| Mobisante Inc for MobiUS | |
| Best Mobile Learning Innovation | |
| Urban Planet Mobile and PT Telkomsel for Urban English, Mobile English Learning Initiative | |
| Best Mobile Innovation for Utilities | |
| EDMI and Sierra Wireless for EDMI EWM100 Advanced GSM/GPRS Modem for Smart Metering Applications | |
| Best Mobile Innovation for Automotive & Transport | |
| Nissan Motor, AT&T, NTT DOCOMO, and Telenor Connexion for ICT for Electric Vehicles | |
| Best Embedded Mobile Device (Non-Handsets) | |
| AT&T and VITALITY, Inc for AT&T-connected Vitality GlowCaps | |
| Category 6 - Green Mobile Award | |
| Green Mobile Award for Best Green Product/Service or Performance | |
| Bharti Infratel for GreenTowers P7 Project | |
| Category 7 - Best Mobile Devices | |
| Best Mobile Device | |
| Apple for iPhone 4 | |
| Device Manufacturer of the Year | |
| HTC | |
| Category 8 - Best Technology | |
| Best Mobile Broadband Technology | |
| Ruckus Wireless for Ruckus Mobile Wi-Fi Gateway System | |
| Best Mobile Technology for Emerging Markets | |
| Orange for Orange solar base station programme | |
| Best Technology Breakthrough | |
| Seven Networks for SEVEN Open Channel | |
| Best Customer Care & CRM | |
| Airtel Africa and Tango Telecom for Tango Telecom's 'Dynamic Pricing Service' | |
| Category 9 - Outstanding Achievement Awards | |
| GSMA Chairman's Award | |
| Dr. Wang Jianzhou, Chairman, China Mobile | |
| Government Leadership Award | |
| Government of Afghanistan | |
“For HTC to be recognized by the industry in this way for the growth and success we have experienced in the last year is truly humbling. Thousands of people at HTC work tirelessly to create the intuitive and deeply personal smartphone experiences for which we have become known. This award is a measure of their passion and dedication,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “This award also belongs to the tens of millions of customers around the world who enjoy our phones and inspire us each day to create new innovative experiences. To those people, to our partners around the world and to the HTC family, you have my sincere thanks and congratulations.”
The GSMA judges commented, “this company (HTC) has built its market presence from nowhere, with fresh branding and marketing and a strong portfolio of devices across many platforms. In particular, it has proven an exceptionally popular and enduring phone manufacturer. With great communication and good customer service, this is a well-deserved award.”
HTC previously was awarded for the “Best Mobile Phone of 2010” with the HTC Hero.
A committee of judges that include industry analysts and consultants, mobile operators, educators and other industry leaders determines the GSMA Awards
“For HTC to be recognized by the industry in this way for the growth and success we have experienced in the last year is truly humbling. Thousands of people at HTC work tirelessly to create the intuitive and deeply personal smartphone experiences for which we have become known. This award is a measure of their passion and dedication,” said Peter Chou, CEO of HTC Corporation. “This award also belongs to the tens of millions of customers around the world who enjoy our phones and inspire us each day to create new innovative experiences. To those people, to our partners around the world and to the HTC family, you have my sincere thanks and congratulations.”
The GSMA judges commented, “this company (HTC) has built its market presence from nowhere, with fresh branding and marketing and a strong portfolio of devices across many platforms. In particular, it has proven an exceptionally popular and enduring phone manufacturer. With great communication and good customer service, this is a well-deserved award.”
HTC previously was awarded for the “Best Mobile Phone of 2010” with the HTC Hero.
A committee of judges that include industry analysts and consultants, mobile operators, educators and other industry leaders determines the GSMA Awards
The research firm's report collects the rankings for each of the companies' apps once a week. Strategy Analytics' data from May 2 to June 20 showed Hulu Plus to be well behind Netflix and HBO Go in popularity.
Some observers suspect that Hulu Plus has failed to catch on with consumers. One of the top complaints about the service is that Hulu Plus charges a monthly subscription in addition to requiring users to watch ads. Netflix offers unlimited viewing for a similar price, but it is ad-free. Hulu's struggles may may be among the reasons owners Disney, News Corp., and NBC Universal are trying to sell the service.
HBO Go, the Web-streaming service from the premium cable channel, saw a big spike in popularity with the launch of the company's Android, iPad, and iPhone apps, which continue to be applauded by users and critics. The company has said more than 1 million HBO subscribers downloaded the app in its first week.
HBO Go provides access to every episode of every show, a reservoir of some of the past decade's best-loved TV, including "The Sopranos," "Sex in the City," and "The Wire." The app has also won applause for the way it organizes the material.
Here again, Hulu loses in a face-to-face comparison. The library of past episodes for some hit shows is more restricted. The number of downloads for HBO Go, however, seems to have dipped since the initial spike and has fallen below that of Netflix. That isn't surprising, as everything seems to be going Netflix's way. The Web's top video rental service saw its stock price skyrocket after announcing that it is planning to expand into 43 Latin American countries sometime this year.
SOURCE:CNET
The research firm's report collects the rankings for each of the companies' apps once a week. Strategy Analytics' data from May 2 to June 20 showed Hulu Plus to be well behind Netflix and HBO Go in popularity.
Some observers suspect that Hulu Plus has failed to catch on with consumers. One of the top complaints about the service is that Hulu Plus charges a monthly subscription in addition to requiring users to watch ads. Netflix offers unlimited viewing for a similar price, but it is ad-free. Hulu's struggles may may be among the reasons owners Disney, News Corp., and NBC Universal are trying to sell the service.
HBO Go, the Web-streaming service from the premium cable channel, saw a big spike in popularity with the launch of the company's Android, iPad, and iPhone apps, which continue to be applauded by users and critics. The company has said more than 1 million HBO subscribers downloaded the app in its first week.
HBO Go provides access to every episode of every show, a reservoir of some of the past decade's best-loved TV, including "The Sopranos," "Sex in the City," and "The Wire." The app has also won applause for the way it organizes the material.
Here again, Hulu loses in a face-to-face comparison. The library of past episodes for some hit shows is more restricted. The number of downloads for HBO Go, however, seems to have dipped since the initial spike and has fallen below that of Netflix. That isn't surprising, as everything seems to be going Netflix's way. The Web's top video rental service saw its stock price skyrocket after announcing that it is planning to expand into 43 Latin American countries sometime this year.
SOURCE:CNET