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Hackers Will Go After iPhone in 2008, Says Network Security Firm

by Alon Avdi on December 13, 2007 at 09:47 AM



A report issued by network security firm Arbor Networks foreshadows what may be a year of increasing hacker attacks on the iPhone. According to the Arbor Network Security and Engineering Response Team (ASERT), hackers will focus their efforts in the form of drive by attacks against the new platform in 2008. These attacks are made up of malware -- corrupting programs -- that is embedded into data, images or other media and appeasr non-threatening, but in reality performs harmful actions when activated on the iPhone's Web browser. The ASERT team speculates that hackers will turn their attention to the iPhone in order to claim bragging rights by 'be[ing] the first' to hack a new platform.

This latest news adds to the open debate between Mac and PC makers over the level of security their products provide. Apple suggests that its programs are relatively virus free, especially when compared to the constantly-attacked PC-based Windows operating system. Windows/PC proponents argue that this imbalance in hacker assaults does not reflect the quality of security offered, but instead is indicative of marketplace disparity between the two computing options. That is, the majority (about 90 percent)of computers bought and used are of the PC variety, so hackers have gone after the product that offered the most notoriety to corrupt -- security through obscurity.

It seems, however, that one development in 2008 may clarify the whole matter. Next year, Apple will open up the iPhone to third party applications. Until now the iPhone has employed a closed system, which gave the impression of better security. When third party applications are given the go-ahead in the coming months, it will be easier to understand the level of security vulnerability in the iPhone, and by extension, other Apple products. Until now, the only way to install third-party software onto the iPhone was to do it illegally, with all of hacking's accompanying problems.

It seems to us that in 2008 and beyond, iPhone lovers will have to treat their do-it-all device like their computer at home, with the same security precautions against downloading dubious programs and opening e-mails from suspicious sources. Whether Apple/Mac security is as good as advertised remains to be seen.

From Newsvine Via iTnews

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Tags: hacker, iPhone, mobile security, MobileSecurity

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