Apple Blocking iPhone Security Software

Barence writes "Speaking exclusively to PC Pro, Eugene Kaspersky has claimed Apple has repeatedly refused to deliver the software development kit necessary to design security software for the phone. 'We have been in contact for two years with Apple to develop our anti-theft software, [but] still we do not have permission,' said Kaspersky. Although he admits the risk of viruses infecting the iPhone is 'almost zero,' he claims that securing the data on the handset is critical, especially as iPhones are increasingly being used for business purposes. 'I don't want to say Apple's is the wrong way of behaving, or the right way,' Kaspersky added. 'It's just a corporate culture — it wants to control everything.'"

Comments

However Spyware on the iPhone is rife

[sh0rtie]

this guy created a whole site because of the problem and the iPhones inability to block/stop such behaviour
http://i-phone-home.blogspot.com/

Re:We already have an anti-virus

[Dancindan84]

We have been in contact for two years with Apple to develop our anti-theft software...

I know lots of people never RTFA, but you couldn't even get through the summary? Here's your sign.

it wants to control everything

[HalAtWork]

"it wants to control everything"

...which is one way of preventing malware, it's working pretty well so far for that platform.

Re:it wants to control everything

[prockcore]

.which is one way of preventing malware, it's working pretty well so far for that platform.

Depends on your definition of malware. Spyware is rife on the app store. Pinch Media's analytics tracking is all over the app store.. more than 30 million downloads contained their tracking software... at least according to Pinch Media itself.

Here is everything that apps with pinch media analytics are sending to them:

Your iPhones unique ID, iPhone model and OS version, application info, whether or not the iphone is jailbroken, whether or not the application is pirated, time & date you start and stop the application, your current latitude & longitude, and if facebook is installed on your iphone, your gender and birthday.

Wrong way of behaving

[clone53421]

I don't want to say Apple's is the wrong way of behaving

Well, I do. It’s the wrong way of behaving.

Re:We already have an anti-virus

[Anonymous Coward]

Man, you obviously don't deal in the real world or at least in large org.

Google for a couple of mins and you find that the "encryption" on the latest iPhone 3GS has already been broken.

There's no proper central management of the device; the iPhone has to be tethered.

If you set some settings on the device, there's nothing stopping the user from changing configuration again.

So it's fine for you if you want to keep some personal contacts and maybe your shopping list; it's nowhere near the level one would expect it to be used in the financial or government sectors.

That's why RIM and BES reign supreme in that area.
I wish Apple would wise up; lord knows I deal constantly with "senior managers" who want to use their toys at our hospital.

Re:Nothing to see here folks

[AndrewNeo]

While AT&T are bad verizon is just as bad if not worse. Ihave watched verizons 3G network slow to a crawl.

You say that with no context as to where you live, which is very important. Because where I am, AT&T just turned on 3G less than six months ago, and it's slower than Verizon's which has been on for two years, and hasn't slowed down a bit since I got my Droid.

Re:Nothing to see here folks

[Pojut]

AT&T speeds are generally faster than Verizon in my area, but the reception of AT&T phones around where I live is absolutely horrendous...based on what friends who have the iPhone have told me, there are TONS of dead spots around here (Montgomery County, Maryland...hardly the boonies.)

I will gladly take a slow network over spotty network coverage.

Re:We already have an anti-virus

[Khyber]

"The iPhone has enterprise tools available for anti-theft, too. "

Every single one of them useless the moment I turn off the phone and clip the antenna wires so it can't get a signal or just add more wire to completely fuck the antenna. Then it's free reign and I can take all the time I want breaking the encryption.

Been there, done that, give me something that's actually new and interesting. I have many friends with iPhones and they're always bringing them to me. Anything Apple can do I've already got circumventions around. Until they physically make the inside of the case inaccessible, their software is totally fucking useless.

Re:We already have an anti-virus

[RogerWilco]

Their control of the App Store and anti-jailbreaking measures are because of one reason: Apple wants to avoid bad publicity.
When there was this rash of rickrolled iPhones a few months back, most media reported it, but very few mentioned that it only affected jail broken phones. Apple wants to avoid getting into the news like that, because their brand is the most important asset they have.