The halo surrounding Apple for many years has begun to slip down as the security holes in the supposedly infallible defenses of iOS and bugs in the flagship features of the iPhone have started to gain more prominence. The myths regarding the phone’s robust technical fortress have long been busted by security experts, though a considerable amount of iPhone users continue to hold on to the illusion of security. Considering the implications of such ignorance, it has become more important than ever to highlight the major security holes that every iPhone user needs to be aware of.
The many Security Holes in iOS 7
Apple was aiming to set new standards in performance and security with iOS 7. Whether it was able to do that in performance is an entirely different debate, but as far as setting new standards in security is concerned, it has clearly misfired. Since releasing iOS 7 two months ago, Apple has released three security updates, or rather security fixes. The first update was released for iOS 7.0, which allowed access to the notification center even when the screen was locked. The second update became necessary after it was discovered that anyone can bypass the screen passcode through the Control Center. The third and most recent update was released to deal with the lock screen bug, which allowed anyone to access the iPhone user’s address book, communication, and other data through Siri from the home screen. If you are not on the latest version of iOS, i.e. 7.0.3, then you may very well consider yourself a sitting duck. The window is left wide open for anyone to sneak into your iPhone and install some app for spying on text messages and other data.
Safari Browser AutoFill Feature and Cookies
In order to offer convenience to iPhones users in the fast-paced world, Safari has the AutoFill feature enabled by default, thus saving passwords so that users can access their accounts swiftly. It also stores cookies to make the online experience somewhat smoother. This convenience, however, can become a huge threat if the phone lands in someone else’s hands, someone with malicious intentions. The saved passwords can give that person an easy access to the social networking, mailing and even bank accounts of the users, whereas the cookies can reveal their online behavior and interest. Both the identity as well as the money of the user can be stolen.
The Safari Fraudulent Warning Feature
It is indeed very thoughtful of Apple to protect its users from phishing scams using the Safari Fraudulent Warning feature. But the idea that every single URL requested by the users is first scanned by the company is pretty unnerving, since it allows the latter to get a pretty good idea about the users’ browsing habits. Who is to say when or how this information may become a security threat for the user.
The Ad Tracking Feature
The Ad Tracking feature in iPhone bears a strong resemblance to spyware in the sense that it too keeps track of users’ cyber activities and phone habits. The intent, however, is not to harm the users, but instead, use the information to deliver them target ads. While this may appear harmless, don’t forget that Apple stores all the gathered information in its internal servers, which the likes of NSA can and have been snooping in.
The Location Feature in Map-app
The location feature introduced in iOS 7 allows the Map app to remember the places that the iPhone user visits on a frequent basis. It then uses this information to deliver traffic information to make the commute convenient. However, the fact that the feature is letting the Map app and consequently Apple keep track of users’ location and traveling habits can become a huge security risk on its own, especially if this information somehow falls in the wrong hands.
The Implications of Jailbreaking
Exclusivity is not the only thing that an iPhone loses when it is jailbroken. The process blows up a big hole in the robust fortress around the iOS, enabling the installation of third-party, unsigned apps, but at the heavy price of making it vulnerable to all sorts of security threats that were originally being kept at bay by the walled-garden mobile operating system.
Apple’s commitment to bolstering the defenses of iPhone is evident from its swift response to the security loopholes that have been discovered in even its latest operating system. While not quite there yet, the company is clearly aiming to get to a point where it will rightly be identified as the securest cellular option in the world.