Apple has released a software fix for a serious vulnerability in the iPhone, a day after two prominent computer-security researchers demonstrated at a top industry conference, Black Hat, that they could wreak havoc on the devices with a simple SMS message, reports NewYork Times.
The researchers said they notified Apple of the problem more than a month before their presentation at Black Hat. The company had yet to release the patch, so the they decided to publicize their discovery in an effort to push Apple to act. An outcry that followed the Forbes story and the researchers’ presentation seems to have done just that.
“This morning, less than 24 hours after a demonstration of this exploit, we’ve issued a free software update that eliminates the vulnerability from the iPhone,” Apple said in an e-mailed statement. To reassure concerned customers, Apple also tried to correct erroneous reports that malicious attackers had actually struck, stressing that no such episodes had occurred.
But if the history of attacks on computers is any guide, it may not take long. Which is why you shouldn’t waste too much time plugging in your iPhone and downloading the update. Go to iTunes, choose your device and click “Check for Update.” A dialogue box should tell you that version 3.0.1 is available for your iPhone. Go ahead and click “Download and Install,” and follow the commands from there.
To date, cellphones have not been a big hacker target, but many experts expect that to change now that powerful smartphones like the iPhone are proliferating.
