First iOS Malware Discovered In Apple's App Store

New submitter DavidGilbert99 writes "Security experts have discovered what is claimed to be the first ever piece of malware to be found in the Apple App Store. While Android is well known for malware, Apple has prided itself on being free from malicious apps ... until now. The app steals your contact data and uploads it to a remote server before sending spam SMS messages to all your contacts, but the messages look like they are coming from you."

Comments

App is/was also available for Android

[Anonymous Coward]

So they targeted both groups.

Not surprising...

[Anonymous Coward]

One of my beefs about iOS is that even though it will ask the user if an app attempts to use the GPS or notification, there are plenty of juicy things that can be obtained and copied elsewhere. Photos are protected against being deleted, but they can be slurped up and copied off without the user knowing. Same with contacts and music.

I'm surprised this was caught. If a person jailbreaks their device and runs PMP (Protect My Privacy) and Firewall IP, they will see a lot of apps digging in places where they shouldn't be, and sending lots of data to sites that have zero relevance to the task at hand. One major news app connects to so many sites without DNS (just via IP addresses) that I ended up just blacklisting all but the few sites it gets news info.

I would say where the rubber meets the road, iOS has been more secure, because Apple guards the gateway and does it well. However, if anything malicious does make it past, it can have a field day.

Re:First *malware* perhaps

[GameboyRMH]

Addendum: Looks like I'm right:

http://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=2959773&cid=40554831