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Apple’s first major App security breach is a worry for the future

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Apple reeling after AppStore malware attack

Apple is notorious for its strict but warranted grip on its App Store. Apps, games and anything else in between that’s hosted on their storefront goes through a series of rigorous checks before being made available for download, squashing most chances for nasty bugs to somehow make their way onto any Apple device. It’s worked for years, but an attack from a source that no one really saw coming has left Apple vulnerable – and it’s a little scary.

Instead of trying to upload malware ridden apps directly, malware known as XcodeGhost attacks the source directly. Xcode is a development environment for Apple applications on OSX, and it’s here where the malware strikes. The trick was getting app developers to use a sneakily custom-created version of Xcode, injecting the malware into any apps that were created in the environment. And since it’s coming from Xcode directly, it slipped completely under Apple’s radar.

It infected numerous apps on the Chinese store specifically, including social networking giant WeChat. Apple soon identified and managed to wipe out the malware from all apps affect in the AppStore, but not without scratching their heads as to how it all happened in the first place.

“We’ve removed the apps from the App Store that we know have been created with this counterfeit software. We are working with the developers to make sure they’re using the proper version of Xcode to rebuild their apps.”

Screening apps for malware is one thing, but having an entire coding environment comprised is a different kind of headache for Apple. It’s a shrewd way for potential hackers to gain information too, with XcodeGhost in particular being able to access functions like the device’s Clipboard, post fake phishing dialogs and even open URLs automatically. It’s dangerous stuff to have on your mobile device that now handles things like social media accounts, bank accounts and probably every email account you own.

But scarier so is the fact that it came from multiple sources at once, with unaware developers baking the malware right into their next big app upgrade. Apple has a lot of thinking to do in terms of how it better monitors its own coding environments.

Last Updated: September 21, 2015

23 Comments

  1. Is nothing iSacred anymore?

    Reply

    • Pariah

      September 21, 2015 at 12:09

      iLaughed. #NotReally

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        September 21, 2015 at 12:11

        iFarted on your breakfast

        Reply

        • Pariah

          September 21, 2015 at 12:11

          Since iDon’t eat breakfast, you must’ve done so on someone else’s.

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            September 21, 2015 at 12:13

            Now iKnow why you are so retarded, Skipping the most important meal of the day.

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 21, 2015 at 12:14

            *iMportant

          • Pariah

            September 21, 2015 at 12:15

            You are Portant? iThought you were Trevor… O_o

          • Grand Admiral Chief

            September 21, 2015 at 12:30

            FINALLY we know the name of his species! The Portants

          • Pariah

            September 21, 2015 at 12:14

            Swing and a miss. Twice today. It’s Monday, so iForgive you. But next time bring your A game.

    • Dutch Matrix

      September 21, 2015 at 12:09

      iGuess Not

      Reply

  2. Kromas untamed

    September 21, 2015 at 12:18

    You know when you bite into a juicy apple and find you just bit off a worms head. Someone finally created the digital equivalent. I can’t help but laugh.

    Reply

  3. Grand Admiral Chief

    September 21, 2015 at 12:21

    And so it ends

    Reply

  4. Grand Admiral Chief

    September 21, 2015 at 12:32

    SKYNET!

    Reply

  5. Commander JJ of the Normandy

    September 21, 2015 at 12:40

    This must be fake. Apple has the best software and hardware

    Reply

    • Grand Admiral Chief

      September 21, 2015 at 12:44

      Don’t forget the best price as well! And the most awesome add-on features to their awesome products

      Reply

      • Commander JJ of the Normandy

        September 21, 2015 at 12:46

        Best of all is the USB compatibility that easily integrates with almost any desktop and/or laptop.

        Reply

        • Grand Admiral Chief

          September 21, 2015 at 12:50

          Oh oh oh and a UNIVERSAL port that just works

          Reply

          • VampyreSquirrel

            September 21, 2015 at 12:56

            Don’t forget that awesome port for external displays that allows you to plug in ANY screen without any converters.

          • Grand Admiral Chief

            September 21, 2015 at 13:28

            And how can we forget the aura of smugness and superiority that comes included with the owning of said peripherals and attachments!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            September 21, 2015 at 13:47

            You’ll take my kb&m when you pry them from my cold dead hands!

            Wait… were we still talking about Apple? O_o

        • Alien Emperor Trevor

          September 21, 2015 at 12:52

          Little known fact: Mass Effect was actually named after Steve Jobs’ marketing ability.

          Reply

          • Commander JJ of the Normandy

            September 21, 2015 at 13:26

            Makes sense.

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      September 22, 2015 at 00:56

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      ???? WWW.PROFIT70.COM ???????????????????????

      Reply

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