iPhone Trojan Sign of Things to Come?

climber writes "Just days after the first scareware for OSX, researchers are pondering the problems of an iPhone exploit that could lead to larger issues. The Trojan pulls legitimate apps off the phone if you try to remove it, but it only infects iPhones that have 'been modified or opened through a security hole in the system.' Though this worm is more of an annoyance than anything else, it could be a proof of concept for a more serious attack. 'The fear is hackers may be experimenting and gathering research that will increase the dangers of a more malicious attack in the near future. It is clear at least one writer -- the author of this piece at Web Worker Daily -- thinks that the iPhone should be left on the dresser in the morning. She offers several reasons that the device isn't a good corporate tool.'"

Comments

What rock was she hiding under?

[dreamchaser]

She offers several reasons that the device isn't a good corporate tool.'"

It's not even a *bad* corporate tool. It's a consumer device and was never meant (in its current incarnation) to be used for corporate uses. You can't even get one if your AT&T number is registered via a business account. It's like saying "this plum isn't a very good orange."

Idiot.

Re:What rock was she hiding under?

[arminw]

....... IT should be used to supporting stuff that isn't ready for .....

But isn't that the fun and interesting part of an IT job. Coming up with clever solutions that others have not already thought of and pre-chewed and partially digested is what makes the life of a real engineer challenging and fun. This includes supporting Windows, possibly in ways and with methods the folks in Redmond have not even dreamed up yet.

So FUD... and a non sequitur

[revscat]

'The fear is hackers may be experimenting and gathering research that will increase the dangers of a more malicious attack in the near future. It is clear at least one writer -- the author of this piece at Web Worker Daily -- thinks that the iPhone should be left on the dresser in the morning. She offers several reasons that the device isn't a good corporate tool.'

So the summary starts off being nothing more than FUD, and since that won't hold water descends quickly -- albeit nonsensically -- into a completely different topic.

I guess Zonk hates the iPhone. Or is looking for page views. Or something. *shrug* Whatever, none of this makes a lick of sense.

Wrong

[MBCook]

1. It is not a worm. That would require it to spread
2. Software installed on systems without privilege levels (like the old days of DOS or OS 7) is allowed to do anything... duh
3. This isn't a flaw with the iPhone. Apple's way of installing applications may prevent this kind of stuff

Anything that starts with "replace the firmware of your device with this hacked firmware" can obviously cause you problems.

Doesn't this only support Apple's position?

[UnknowingFool]

but it only infects iPhones that have 'been modified or opened through a security hole in the system.'

Since the very beginning, Apple has told people not to hack the iPhone because it could endanger the functionality and security of the device. Those who did could suffer when Apple updated the firmware. Now it appears hackers have found a way to compromise the iPhone because it had been already been compromised. By the way, the first hack into the iPhone require physical access to the phone so it's not like you surfing in your coffee shop will get you a Trojan. Someone first has to steal your phone and then hack it for this Trojan to work remotely.

Dresser

[Fnord666]

From the summary

It is clear at least one writer -- the author of this piece at Web Worker Daily -- thinks that the iPhone should be left on the dresser in the morning. She offers several reasons that the device isn't a good corporate tool.'"

The author of the linked piece at Web Worker Daily said no such thing. In fact, the author didn't express a personal opinion one way or the other about the matter. The author was quoting a piecewritten by Benjamin Gray, who works for Forrester.

From the linked article

At least, that's the conclusion coming out of Forrester, whose analyst Benjamin Gray, lists 10 reasons why the iPhone is not yet ready to be an enterprise-class mobile device.

I will have to take the Web Worker Daily's word for it though, since I don't feel like ponying up $279 for a 6 page pdf.

"dangers of a more malicious attack"

[Schraegstrichpunkt]

The fear is hackers may be experimenting and gathering research that will increase the dangers of a more malicious attack in the near future. So the summary starts off being nothing more than FUD, and since that won't hold water descends quickly -- albeit nonsensically -- into a completely different topic.

No kidding. News flash: If the iPhone is vulnerable, then the "dangers of a more malicious attack" are already there. The solution is to fix the iPhone, not to bitch and fearmonger about "hackers ... experimenting and gathering research".

Re:"dangers of a more malicious attack"

[Tsiangkun]

This only affects unlocked iPhones, so I assume by "fix", that you mean use as intended ?

Attack of the Weasels

[Bullfish]

Sadly, this is another sign that as Apple products grow in popularity that they will attract the attention of the weasels. Whether or not the statements the weasels make hold any water, or whether or not the scares turn out to be true, the weasels are arriving.

If I had mod points...

[zieroh]

If I had mod points, could I mod the entire article down?

Oh. And.

[Swift2001]

When Apple said, "Hey, you find a security hole to install third-party software, we're going to have to close the hole," everybody yelled and screamed. Now someone's using the back door that the hackers found. Well, as Gomer used to say, "Surprise, surprise." I wonder if the new software update closes that hole.