Technology
Apple 'bug' puts iPhones with latest iOS to hacking risk
San Francisco, Aug 20
Apple has reportedly unpatched a bug in the latest iOS update 12.4 that it had fixed in the earlier iOS 12.3 update -- leaving its most up-to-date iPhones vulnerable to hacking risk.
According to Motherboard, security researchers have already exploited the vulnerability in iOS 12.4 and released a public "jailbreak" on open-sourced software development platform Github -- the first free public jailbreak for a fully-updated iPhone that's been released in years.
As a result of the mistake, all iPhones running iOS 12.4 can now be jailbroken and several iPhone users have already tweeted that they are successfully running the "jailbreak".
Jailbreaking an iPhone lets people customize their iOS devices and run unsupported apps.
Apple never allows unsupported apps on its iOS platform, which makes its devices extra secure.
The Cupertino-based tech giant was yet to respond to this.
Apple had fixed this flaw, found by a Google hacker, in the earlier iOS 12.3 version.
"Due to 12.4 being the latest version of iOS currently available and the only one which Apple allows upgrading to, for the next couple of days (till 12.4.1 comes out), all devices of this version are jail breakable and vulnerable to what is effectively a 100+ day exploit,a Jonathan Levin, a security researcher was quoted as saying.
A security research that goes by the name of "Pwn20wnd" has published a jailbreak for iOS 12.4.
"The exploits for the iPhone can sell for millions of dollars, which means that no one has been willing to release jailbreak code publicly because Apple will quickly patch it," said the report.
Security experts have warned to be careful what apps they download with this jailbreak.
Apple recently announced to pay up to $1 million to security researchers for finding flaws and vulnerabilities as part of its bug bounty programme.
The announcement was made by Ivan Krstic, Head of security engineering and architecture at Apple, during the annual Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.
According to Motherboard, security researchers have already exploited the vulnerability in iOS 12.4 and released a public "jailbreak" on open-sourced software development platform Github -- the first free public jailbreak for a fully-updated iPhone that's been released in years.
As a result of the mistake, all iPhones running iOS 12.4 can now be jailbroken and several iPhone users have already tweeted that they are successfully running the "jailbreak".
Jailbreaking an iPhone lets people customize their iOS devices and run unsupported apps.
Apple never allows unsupported apps on its iOS platform, which makes its devices extra secure.
The Cupertino-based tech giant was yet to respond to this.
Apple had fixed this flaw, found by a Google hacker, in the earlier iOS 12.3 version.
"Due to 12.4 being the latest version of iOS currently available and the only one which Apple allows upgrading to, for the next couple of days (till 12.4.1 comes out), all devices of this version are jail breakable and vulnerable to what is effectively a 100+ day exploit,a Jonathan Levin, a security researcher was quoted as saying.
A security research that goes by the name of "Pwn20wnd" has published a jailbreak for iOS 12.4.
"The exploits for the iPhone can sell for millions of dollars, which means that no one has been willing to release jailbreak code publicly because Apple will quickly patch it," said the report.
Security experts have warned to be careful what apps they download with this jailbreak.
Apple recently announced to pay up to $1 million to security researchers for finding flaws and vulnerabilities as part of its bug bounty programme.
The announcement was made by Ivan Krstic, Head of security engineering and architecture at Apple, during the annual Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.

31 minutes ago
All Pakistani handles on X blocked in India, ban on YouTube channels stays

32 minutes ago
Norway launches first national strategy for radiation protection, nuclear safety

37 minutes ago
Zumba chaos in kerala schools

39 minutes ago
Not going to let this Communist Lunatic destroy New York": Trump again takes a dig at NYC Dem primary Mamdani

44 minutes ago
Hamas says conducting consultations over Gaza ceasefire proposals

44 minutes ago
EAM Jaishankar meets heads of US FBI, National Intelligence

46 minutes ago
South Korean Prez vows to improve relations with North Korea based on cooperation with US

47 minutes ago
Pakistan doesn't impinge on India-US relations: EAM Jaishankar

48 minutes ago
US gives India priority as key South Asia defence partner: Pete Hegseth

51 minutes ago
Air India cancels Delhi-Washington flight due to technical snag in Vienna

52 minutes ago
Rahul Gandhi questions Maha govt over farmer suicides, BJP counters with facts during Cong-NCP rule

53 minutes ago
HDFC Bank CEO Jagdishan moves SC against Lilavati Trust’s FIR; hearing tomorrow

54 minutes ago
NIMHANS unveils world’s largest archived patient records, digitises mental health data from 1890s