For the first time security researchers have found a flaw in Apple’s iPhone that allows them to take control of the device. Experts at the Independent Security Evaluators (ISE) said a hacker could install malicious code on to the phone via its Safari internet browser, through a WiFi connection or tricking users to visit a malicious site.
Paul Paget has agreed to step down as chief executive of Core Security when the penetration testing vendor finds a replacement. Boston-based Core announced today that it is looking for a CEO “who has brought companies of Coreâs size to that next level of rapid growth.”
A team of computer security consultants say they have found a flaw in Appleâs wildly popular iPhone that allows them to take control of the device. The researchers, working for Independent Security Evaluators, a company that tests its clientsâ computer security by hacking it, said that they could take control of iPhones through a WiFi connection or by tricking users into going to a Web site that contains malicious code. The hack, the first reported, allowed them to tap the wealth of personal information the phones contain.
A hacker has accessed two University of Michigan databases containing student information, including names, addresses and some Social Security numbers, a spokeswoman said Saturday. The School of Education databases also listed some birth dates and districts where former students were teaching. University spokeswoman Kelly Cunningham said they contained no financial information.
Web ads are becoming a delivery system of choice for hackers seeking to distribute viruses over the Internet. In a development that could threaten the explosive growth of online advertising, hackers have started to exploit security holes to slip viruses into ads. Going to a site that shows such an ad can infect a computer.
Oracle has acquired the identity theft prevention vendor Bharosa to boost its authentication and fraud detection technologies. Oracle said that the purchase was driven by demand for solutions to ease the burden of compliance requirements, such as the Federal Information Security Act of 2002 (FISMA), the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and Payment Card Industry (PCI) requirements.
Experts warn that criminals are using this summer’s big books and films as means to churn out spam and worms to victims. Spammers and cybercriminals are exploiting movie-goers with junk emails and viruses riding on the back of this summer’s blockbusters. While news of Harry Potter spoilers circulate the internet, spammers are also exploiting interest in the Simpsons Movie out next week. Spam is flooding recipients’ inboxes with offers of a $500 (Ĺ250) gift voucher to fill out a Simpson’s related online survey.
Most businesses are unhappy with the performance of their anti-spam technologies, a survey has found. The survey, entitled The Spam Index Report, found that most customers were not fully satisfied with the service they received from anti-spam vendors. Over 500 businesses were polled by IT consultants Brockmann & Company, with 40 percent of the respondents having IT responsibilities.
The Unofficial Apple blog is reporting that a nameless UK gent has been able to get an iPhone working on a UK network. Achieving what was thought to be the impossible has raised many eyebrows from others currently involved in attempting a full iPhone hack. Apparently the UK resident got himself an AT&T SIM card and an iPhone, courtesy of eBay, and then with a little lateral thinking has been able to use it on Vodafone.
Mozilla released an important update to the Firefox web browser today. The new Firefox 2.0.0.5 fixes a critical flaw that enables a hacker to control a userâs computer. Ironically, this was done by letting the hacker launch Firefox through Internet Explorer, and then Firefox would run malicious instructions that could compromise their system.