Switchfast Blog: The Future of IT
Beware: Rogue iPhone Apps that Steal Data
Wednesday, February 03, 2010 by Michael Holley
There's no question that the iPhone was an anomaly that quickly
spawned a revolution in the realm of mobile technology; a deviation
from the norm that was so engaging, it inspired everyone in the
industry to rethink the role, design, and potential of a cellular
phone.
However, the popularity that has ensued has put Apple in a
position in which they are not accustomed. The iPhone has become
popular enough that it has transcended the usual "high-end niche"
status of most Apple products, and its market share has made it
more of a target for cybercrime than anything it has released
before.
As CNET reports, there have been a numerous
and growing number of instances in which iPhone apps are stealing
information for the users who download them. Apple, still perhaps
too lax in the domain of malware security because it isn't used to
its products being targeted, has done little more than remove
malicious apps from its store on an "as-needed" basis.
Unfortunately, by the time these apps have been discovered as
harmful, the damage has already been done to those who have
downloaded the software.
It is suggested that iPhone user's regularly purge cached data
as a basic precaution, but the best defense is simply to make sure
that all the apps you download are popular, trusted apps. With so
many redundant functions in the app store, it shouldn't be too
difficult to find a big time version of almost everything you
need.
Best,
Michael Holley
Switchfast Technologies
Chicago IT Consulting &
Support
Rochester
IT Consulting & Support
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