Apple Gets First Real Virus Scare -- Security Today

Apple Gets First Real Virus Scare

By Ginger Hill
Nov 06, 2014

Looks like sitting on your new iPhone 6+ and bending it is the least of your worries! Palo Alto Networks, a security firm, has discovered malware in the iOS operating system.

Wirelurker, as it’s termed, sneaks onto computers using unauthorized Chinese apps. It then attacks iOS devices whey they connect over USB. Seriously, though, when’s the last time you actually plugged your iPhone into your computer? Hope you don’t answer with “yesterday!”

Apple has blocked these apps containing malicious software and they have also blocked identified apps to prevent them from launching. It seems that Wirelurker appears to be mostly wiped out. (Key word here is “mostly.”)

Now that Apple has had vulnerabilities exploited by Wirelurker, this could lead to other viruses infiltrating the iOS operating system.

If you’re an iPhone user, be sure to only download apps/software from the Apple App Store. If a piece of software isn’t signed and approved by Apple, it cannot operate on an iPhone, which has been enough to stop most viruses…until now. Wirelurker exploited an exception to Apple’s policy: enterprise provisioning, an official ID that allows third-party apps onto iOS devices.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

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