Bug in iOS 5.0.1 allows unauthorized access to your contacts and call history
A bug found in iOS 5.0.1 may allow an unauthorized user to access your contacts, make phone calls, or use FaceTime on your passcode-protected iPhone. But stop panicking, this bug isn't easily reproduced -- it requires someone else to have access to your phone, with either no service or the sim card removed. Your average snoop won't find it worth their time.
To trigger the bug, someone must confuse the phone after receiving a missed call by one of two methods -- doing it while you have no network coverage or actively inserting and ejecting the SIM card. This will eventually lead to the iPhone unlocking to the phone app and allowing you to place phone calls. Once you hang up, you'll be locked out again.
It seems a bit silly as this process obviously needs to be performed numerous times, as shown in the demo video below, in order for it to confuse the phone. As long as you aren't leaving your iPhone unattended for long periods of time with shady people who actively carry around a SIM removal tool or paperclip, I don't see this becoming a popular way of hacking into someone's iPhone.
A similar bug was discovered a while back under iOS 4 which also allowed access to contacts, favorites, and voicemail on a locked device. Another recently discovered timestamp bug in iOS 5 allowed access to your camera roll.
No word yet on whether or not this specific issue is patched in iOS 5.1. If it isn't already, it probably will be before the public release of iOS 5.1.
Source: iPhoneIslam
Andrew Wray is a Salt Lake City, Utah based writer who focuses on news, how-tos, and jailbreak. Andrew also enjoys running, spending time with his daughter, and jamming out on his guitar. He works in a management position for Unisys Technical Services, a subsidiary of Unisys Corporation.
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easy fix for this. pay attention to your belongings
oh boy...
Wow, I wish I could have the 3 minutes of my life back after watching that video. I almost gave up watching half way through...
Probably doesn't work on my phone as I'm on sprint. It probably doesn't work on Verizon phones either
Was thinking that about Verizon and other CDMA carriers that they are not prone to the flaw and really, I doubt it is tat much of an issue for GSM, like others have said, learn to be vigilant when it comes to your property!
Since no one else but me uses my iPhone, this isn't a problem for me. I don't lend out my iPhone to anyone for any reason.
You don't lend your phone out? I thought everyone did that.
And of course the iPhone is never out of your sight for 3 minutes...
It's something that needs and will be addressed. Although difficult to replicate, it is a security risk. Only a few more weeks until 5.1 andbim sure the jailbreak community will have something out in a few days.
This is the lamest thing ever!!! Who has time to do this???! not me that is for sure.
Shouldn't the headline be, someone can pick up your phone and look at your contacts?
Well at least he can't get Into my photos app cuz I have quite a porn collection stored on there 😉😉😉😜
Word?