iPhone’s Biggest Security Leak Yet: What You Should Know

Apple devices have remained relatively unscathed by hacking–until recently. What’s considered iPhone’s biggest security leak ever recently took place when iBoot was leaked by a low-level Apple employee with links to jailbreaking. In the world of Apple security, even the smallest hacks are big news. Jailbreakers are hackers looking for new ways into Android and Apple operating systems which get at the very heart of the security running a device. Once an operating system security is breached, it could open mobile device users up to a world of hacking hurt. Since mobile device users rarely apply security programs like antivirus and anti-malware, they appeal to hackers looking for an easier target.

Many feel iPhone security breaches are inevitable and iBoot is the biggest one by far. That’s why in late 2017, when iBoot code was exposed online at Reddit and recently on GitHub (has since been taken down over Apple copyright infringements), the damage was already done–the information was already out in cyberspace. The iBoot data appears to expose code from the iOS 9 system released by Apple over two years ago. Although Apple maintains iOS 9 is “old news” and not a current or future security threat, many security researchers disagree. Those researchers maintain it could still be valuable to hackers and jailbreakers looking for new routes into Apple’s operating systems.

The question remaining is how do Apple mobile device users keep from being vulnerable to the iBoot hack? Well, for starters, Apple regularly updates it OS levels, which include security boosts. Users should keep those updates maintained on their devices, as well as security patches offered in between OS updates. A statement by Apple regarding the iBoot leak maintains "There are many layers of hardware and software protections built into our products, and we always encourage customers to update to the newest software releases to benefit from the latest protections." For now, your best defense is a good offense. Always keep your device operating systems and apps updated with the most current versions available.

Stickley on Security
Published March 19, 2018