There has been quite a hoola and hype about Apple’s iPhone, for quite some time now. The product when released, had a record number of sales; and has been one of the more successful products made by Apple. The iPhone, encapsulates the idea of simplicity, beauty and the ease of use within it, so much so that even an old timer is able to use the phone with utmost ease.
The iPhone, is a magician, when it comes to integrating others emails and phone information, along with Personal information management; it does all this but maintaining a single database for all the above. But, what is iPhone’s most promising feature – ease of use – has led to major security flaws and holes that have been capitalized on by various malware and spyware authors already.
According to security experts, the phone’s browser, still does have various, numerous security holes, that make it easier for malware and spyware to dig in and give away the control of the phone to the authors or hackers. All your personal information, including messages and contacts, can be sent over to the author, by just visiting a web site that harbors these types of spyware and malware content.
Citing sources, the reason for these security flaws is the way the iPhone stores and allows everything to run, considering everyone using the phone, as the same user – this was done to provide ease of use. While, other smart phones and PDA’s essentially use the same concept, Microsoft, has gone to lengths in securing its Smart Phone Windows Mobile versions, regularly patching security holes, as soon as they are found.
The complete details of iPhone’s flaws are not yet available, but coming down to basics, the vulnerability of the phones browser seems to be almost the same, that has been affecting other browsers for years. This does mean that, if and when you do visit malware and spyware harboring websites, connect to an spyware or malware infected Wi-Fi network or click on a spam link that takes to an infected web site, the iPhone does get infected and your personal information, including your personal details, phone numbers and emails can be sent to the malware author or the hacker, using the security flaws.
As the commercials and print ad’s of Apple’s iPhone, do stress on the fact that the iPhone, in fact IS the Internet, and the product does value effortlessness over sanctuary, the same ease of use has been extended to hackers, the phones simplicity works in their favor too.
So now, the question does arise, that, what is one suppose to do, having being bought the iPhone and having being fallen in love with the product? Well, as far as we can tell, there is no security patch or any firmware update offered by Apple yet. There are no security software or “antispyware” applications for the same, released yet. What you CAN do, is, keep an eye on the Internet and keep checking and using updates and patches for the same. You may have to avoid storing critical information on the phone like passwords and financial information, and delete emails from unsolicited senders and spam.
