Apple Says iPhone Safari Patch Ready

A weakness in the Safari browser has called in to question the security of Apple's iPhone. Until a patch is released, it's understood that pirates could take control of an iPhone remotely when a corrupted PDF is opened in the Safari browser, and without users even noticing.

This summer is shaping up to be turbulent for Apple. After the antennagate scandal, it's now the iOS and, more precisely, Apple's Safari browser that's hitting the headlines. Several specialist security firms have pointed to Safari as a vulnerable target.

Critical security weaknesses have been identified in the browser, which could allow a point of entry for attackers looking to gain access to iPhones.

Jailbreakme: it's child's play

The problem came to light not long after the launch of Jailbreakme, a new online tool which allows users to unlock their iPhone from restrictions imposed by the manufacturer, and which apparently makes use of this weak spot. To unlock an iPhone with this service, users can simply visit the Jailbreakme site on their iPhone, and then slide their finger over a jailbreak button similar to those found in the iPhone interface. The site has been the focus of much attention, largely because it's so easy to use it's effectively brought jailbreaking to the general public, and it's no longer the premise of tech geeks. It's no wonder Apple tried to ban it!

The flaw allows intruders to gain control of an iPhone when a user opens a corrupted PDF file. There's no visible trace of intrusion, and once they've gained access to the device, hackers can plant viruses, monitoring software and other kinds of nasties.

Apple has now announced that a patch is ready to fix the problem, but still hasn't said when exactly it'll be made available to worried users. In the meantime, iPhone owners are being advised to stick to trusted sites and not to open any PDF files from unknown sources or websites.

News of the security threats came as the Apple mobile operating system was praised by the Forrester Institute for improvements to its security, and for the genuine suitability of the iPhone for professional use.



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