iPhone or Paperweight?

Apple said in a recent article that if you hacked into your iPhone to unlock it, you could end up with a $600 paperweight after they push out the new software updates later this week. The updates will add features that will enable that iPhone to access the iTunes Wi-Fi music store. Apple claims that once the software is installed the touch screen interface that controls that phone will not work properly or may become fully disabled.
Apple claims that their software updates have nothing to with causing the hacked iPhones to become disabled. Now come on! If you believe that you’re pretty naive in my option; Apple knows exactly what they are doing. This is a way for them to make peace with AT&T, since they were the only carrier to have the iPhone and put the screws to anyone who has hacked their own device.
I have to agree with John McLaughlin of Uniquephones.com, in Northern Ireland. He said in the article that Apple is using this as a scare tactic to make people who hacked their iPhones think that they now own nothing more than a useless chunk of plastic. McLaughlin goes on by saying that all that iPhones that have been hacked and unlocked can be put back into working order. He also says that any changes done to the software of the iPhone to unlock it can easy be reversed and that minimal effort is needed to get the phone back into its original locked state. However, Apple claims that as with any product that they offer, hacking the iPhone will void the factory warranty.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/24/ap4151246.html

AOL has hole in IM software

Everyone today seems to use AIM instant messenger. How would you like the possibility of your computer being hacked into by going through your messaging system? Recently there was a study done that showed a security hole in the widely used new AIM programs. The holes were seen in versions 6.1 and 6.2 which is still in the beta test mode. Core Security Technologies were the ones that stumbled upon the flaw and notified Time Warner Inc. in late August of this year. AOL has said the problem was fixed but now they are saying that solution was temporary because of the more holes they have discovered. Core Security says the hole emerged because of the way the new versions allow for more various fonts and they can sent picture expressions in their chats. Hackers can release a certain command in an IM session and then the intruder would have access to their computer. As of right now AOL spokespeople say that AIM users should consider themselves “completely safe”, but in today’s computer would nothing is ever “completely safe” rather just less insecure. They are currently taking action against the hacks by putting more testing into play on how these hacks are being executed. The best advice right now if you are an AIM junkie would be to switch to the older version of 5.9 or use the web based aim until the bugs are fully resolved. Also just be aware if anything looks suspicious not to click on it.

Future Mobile Phone Attacks Inevitable

Within the new technology rising in mobile phones, so is the possibility for an attack. According to researchers at McAfee, mobile malware attacks are not yet popular. The key word there was “yet”. The mobile phone industry really has hit a large boom in terms of smartphones. The phones most consumers and businessmen are using today are not the old-fashioned flip phone, but a device which can do more than just make telephone calls. Currently today Microsoft has a mobile platform called Windows Mobile. They just currently released a new version called Windows Mobile 6. Apple’s IPhone is a similar device offering web browsing, word document editing, and customers to purchase items through their phone. Researchers predict within the next few years the attacks will become large on mobile phones. Many of the phones right now have Wi-Fi built into them for fast internet browsing. This poses a threat in the same way a regular computer would be connected to the internet. Even though it is a mobile phone it is connecting to servers and getting information from another source. Right now this source is trusted, but cybercriminals are beginning to work on ways to hack important information from the mobile phone. Text messages, phone books, important spreadsheets are all types of information that could be intercepted and stolen. A good rule of thumb would be to know the websites you are visiting through the mobile web browser. This will allow the average user’s phone to remain safe, and always remember never give out important information to an unauthorized source.

Cough Up the Dough or Your Email Gets It

Jesse Sklar found himself in a predicament when he noticed that not only was he locked out of his hotmail account, but there was also someone holding it for ransom at one hundred dollars. While Sklar states that he no longer uses the email account on a regular basis, it contains many passwords and other crucial information dealing with his finances.

When it came to his account on Ticketmaster.com or Amazon.com and the like, Sklar soon came to realize that the credentials for these accounts and various others could be compromised and decided to change them immediately. While he implemented the security measures that hotmail has all users place, such as a security question and a backup email -- this was useless for Sklar due to having signed up for the hotmail service decades ago, as he recalls. All he really wants is for the email to be shutdown. Upon later inspection, the kidnapper asked Sklar to send the information via "Paypalll.tk" which is some sort of phishing scam that may result in Sklar losing more than one hundred dollars had he decided to give the money.

If there's anything to take out of Sklar's story, it is not to make the same passwords for everything, as well as not storing crucial information in your emails -- especially one that is a free service.

via WashingtonPost.com

You May Secure Your System, But Does the Goverment

Following 9/11, security became a major issue for the United States government. From airports to shipping ports, regulations were passed and scrutiny increased. However, cybersecurity, one of the biggest threats to national security, has been largely ignored. Every year 24 governmental organizations are graded based on their compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). In 2006 the overall grade was a C-. While this was actually an improvement over the initial D given out in 2003, eight departments still received F’s and one, the Department of Veterans Affairs, didn’t even bother to submit an audit report. In fact the Department of Homeland Security itself only received a D in the 2006 audit.

The reason that these abysmal grades should matter to the general public is that it is their information and safety that is at risk. A study found that the Department of Homeland Security’s travel database, which contains sensitive personal information, has a number of significant security holes that leave all of its data open to attack, possibly without anyone ever knowing. However this is better than the Department of Energy, which sent classified information over the Internet.

These flaws have already resulted in major security breaches. The Department of State was hacked. The attackers installed remote access software and stole passwords and classified information. Attacks based out of China have also successfully infiltrated a number of departments including the Department of Commerce and just in the past week reports have indicated that the Chinese government was involved in an attack on the Pentagon’s computers. (http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11485). These are not isolated problems. There have been 844 significant incidents in the past two years alone. If the government truly wants to improve security, cybersecurity needs to become a focus.


See http://www.securityfocus.com/news/11472 for more information.

Teen Unlocks iPhone

The Apple iPhone was made out to be the biggest deal since sliced bread. Reasons why it was so popular are because it uses touch screen navigation. It is a phone, video media player, audio media player, it has a camera, and it offers internet service, such as email, web browsing, and even local Wi-Fi connectivity. That’s right, it slices, it dices, and is the biggest breakthrough for humans to have as little one on one confrontation as possible. Though, one of the drawbacks to the phone was that the service provider had to be AT&T. But, because of a 17 year old student from New Jersey, the phone can be used with other wireless providers, if properly hacked. The students name is George Hotz, and he completed his summer project by hacking into the iPhone. One of his reasons is so that he could get on his family's T-Mobile plan with an iPhone. Hotz has posted the hacking information on his website for free so that anyone can use it. One of his two hacked iPhones has gone for $3000 on Ebay. He plans to keep the other one for himself.