iPhone work attack in Oz

Rik · Nov 09, 2009, 10:29:06

The BBC reports that:

QuoteThe first worm to infect the Apple iPhone has been discovered spreading "in the wild" in Australia.

The self-propagating program changes the phone's wallpaper to a picture of 80s singer Rick Astley with the message "ikee is never going to give you up".

The worm, known as ikee, only affects "jail-broken" phones, where a user has removed Apple's protection mechanisms to allow the phone to run any software.

Experts say the worm is not harmful but more malicious variants could follow.

"The creator of the worm has released full source code of the four existing variants of this worm," wrote Mikko Hypponen of security firm F-secure.

"This means that there will quickly be more variants, and they might have nastier payload than just changing your wallpaper."

The picture of Rick Astley is believed to be a nod to the internet phenomenon known as Rickrolling, where web users are tricked into clicking on what they believe is a relevant link, only to find that it actually takes the user to a video of the pop star's song "Never gonna give you up".

Steve · Nov 09, 2009, 10:33:17

At least it only effects jail-broken iphones,not something I've contemplated.

Simon · Nov 09, 2009, 10:37:32

It doesn't seem wise to do so. It's not as though there isn't enough official apps for it.

Sebby · Nov 09, 2009, 10:40:07

If you jailbreak your iPhone (i.e. give full access to system files) then this is hardly surprising.

Rik · Nov 09, 2009, 10:48:02

No, but it might serve as a warning to people not to do it.

Steve · Nov 09, 2009, 11:03:10

Perhaps it may spark an interest in developing similar attacks on Mac OS X they are after all related OS's

Rik · Nov 09, 2009, 11:11:04

It may well, Steve.

somanyholes · Nov 09, 2009, 11:58:59

QuoteThe worm is able to infect phones if their owners have not changed the default password after installing SSH.

User stupidity as per usual then ...

Rik · Nov 09, 2009, 12:03:24

Isn't it always, So. PICNIC.

Sebby · Nov 09, 2009, 12:31:16

Quote from: stevethegas on Nov 09, 2009, 11:03:10
Perhaps it may spark an interest in developing similar attacks on Mac OS X they are after all related OS's

Unlikely, since we don't run as root.

Simon · Nov 09, 2009, 12:56:24

"We"? Crikey, you really are hooked!

Sebby · Nov 09, 2009, 13:03:55

I mean users of Mac OS, because that's the way it's setup by default.

zappaDPJ · Nov 09, 2009, 13:26:15

How dreadful, my commiserations to anybody in receipt of a Rick Astley tune, that's a nasty payload

somanyholes · Nov 09, 2009, 13:29:31

QuoteHow dreadful, my commiserations to anybody in receipt of a Rick Astley tune, that's a nasty payload

PMSL

Gary · Nov 09, 2009, 21:09:33

Quote from: zappaDPJ on Nov 09, 2009, 13:26:15
How dreadful, my commiserations to anybody in receipt of a Rick Astley tune, that's a nasty payload

You can actually get a Rickroll blocking txt file for AdBock Plus, it must be bad

Niall · Nov 09, 2009, 23:09:23

It does make you wonder if Apple have got someone to develop this. I wouldn't put it past them.

Gary · Nov 10, 2009, 09:46:34

Quote from: Niall on Nov 09, 2009, 23:09:23
It does make you wonder if Apple have got someone to develop this. I wouldn't put it past them.

Well they chose te best worst screensaver possible, all the jailbroken Apple kids with Rick smiling at them

Nice!

Steve · Nov 10, 2009, 12:32:56

Well if you don't fancy Mr Astley you can always watch the football on Sky Sports,another £6/month on wifi only.

Gary · Nov 10, 2009, 14:24:26

Quote from: stevethegas on Nov 10, 2009, 12:32:56
Well if you don't fancy Mr Astley you can always watch the football on Sky Sports,another £6/month on wifi only.

I hate most sports, and that man gets enough out of me for Sky HD, without the sports package, let alone for my phone.

Glenn · Nov 10, 2009, 16:36:03

Just use TV Catchup

Steve · Nov 10, 2009, 17:31:49

For those with a Sky subscription it should be free!

Sebby · Nov 10, 2009, 18:14:48

Quote from: Niall on Nov 09, 2009, 23:09:23
It does make you wonder if Apple have got someone to develop this. I wouldn't put it past them.

That wouldn't make any sense.

Gary · Nov 11, 2009, 07:33:56

Quote from: stevethegas on Nov 10, 2009, 17:31:49
For those with a Sky subscription it should be free!

Free football.......joy

Gary · Nov 11, 2009, 07:36:43

Quote from: Sebby on Nov 10, 2009, 18:14:48
That wouldn't make any sense.

It would, the cult of the Jobsian would then issue the command that thou must not jailbreat thy iphone or be Rickrolled by the creaters anger, basically a great way to make people think twice about mucking with all things sacred and iLike.

somanyholes · Nov 11, 2009, 08:29:05

though shall not have control of thy own phone, (seems to be more fitting)

Gary · Nov 11, 2009, 08:30:36

Quote from: somanyholes on Nov 11, 2009, 08:29:05
though shall not have control of thy own phone, (seems to be more fitting)

I have one, in many ways it does mean it works better, for them as well as us of course, nicely tied into iTunes

Steve · Nov 11, 2009, 12:10:28

Quote from: Gary on Nov 11, 2009, 07:33:56
Free football.......joy

Its not free though a Sky Sports subscriber would have to pay twice.

Gary · Nov 11, 2009, 12:23:49

Quote from: stevethegas on Nov 11, 2009, 12:10:28
Its not free though a Sky Sports subscriber would have to pay twice.

Paying once to watch football is beyond me Steve

Niall · Nov 11, 2009, 20:29:21

Quote from: Sebby on Nov 10, 2009, 18:14:48
That wouldn't make any sense.

A reasoned argument as usual Mr fan boy

I was only kidding anyway. Although I bet conspiracy nuts have already ranted about this somewhere

Sebby · Nov 11, 2009, 23:34:05

No reasoning was required. I'm not a fan boy, just seen the light.

Steve · Nov 13, 2009, 18:24:12

Bit like Isaac Newton?

Sebby · Nov 14, 2009, 00:06:11

Not dissimilar.