If you ever needed proof that a smartphone doesn't need to be hacked in order for it to cause chaos, then this is probably it. After reports of iPhones being held to ransom started popping up across Australia and being posted to the Apple support forums, people started asking questions. Now it seems this problem has reached the shores of the United States, and the number of reported cases of iPhones being held to ransom is continuing to increase. So what's actually happening?
A Dutch-Moroccan hacking firm called Doulci claims to have successfully bypassed iOS 7's iCloud Activation Lock, allowing the gang to unlock iPhones that would otherwise be completely blocked by the Cupertino company. Given the 400 million strong user base of iCloud, this is a particularly worrying revelation, and since Apple's robust iCloud infrastructure has never been breached in this way, the repercussions could be significant.
Apple has recognized the ongoing needs of its iCloud users using alternative desktop operating systems. The Cupertino based company has officially released an updated version of iCloud Control Panel offering Windows 8.1 support and taking the software to v3.1. Microsoft's latest update to Windows has been with us since the middle of October, bringing with it a number of important aesthetic and functionality based changes and improvements. Apple's latest launch of its updated iCloud Control Panel signifies the company's commitment to those who prefer to use Windows over its own OS X powered Macs.
Earlier this week at Apple's latest media event, the Cupertino company finally released the newest Mac operating system: OS X Mavericks, to the world. Alongside this release came a more silent release of iOS 7.0.3 which brought with it full iCloud Keychain compatibility to go along with Mavericks. If you're unaware of what iCloud Keychain allows you to do, think of it like browser saved passwords, for all of your Apple devices. Once you have set up this new feature, you'll be able to sign into all of your favorite websites in Safari without having entered any of your passwords. It even stores your credit card details for purchases. Don't worry, the data is all encrypted locally, so Apple won't be handling all of your credit card numbers without your permission.
iOS 7 final for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and iTunes 11.1 for Windows and OS X wasn’t the only thing that was released yesterday by Apple. In addition to giving the general public access to the latest revision of iOS, Apple has also made some very important changes to their iCloud bookmark synchronization services that will provide additional functionality to those who use a Windows based PC. More details can be found after the jump.
iOS wasn’t the only thing that went flat at this year’s WWDC. Apple also took the liberty of taking its newly found design language and put it in other places, too.
One of the major talking points of iOS 7 ever since its unveiling at this year's WWDC has pertained to the design. Hardware design lead Jony Ive has been tasked with the job of updating an interface long overdue some change, and although the expulsion of skeuomorphism hasn't gone down well with everybody, the crowds do seem to be warming to the new look as the betas roll on. Being a company of uniformity, we'd expect the new philosophy to manifest across the board, and as iOS 7 continues its transition from old to new, the Cupertino company has made some similar changes to the beta version of the iCloud.com website.
It may have taken the Cupertino based company a while to get there, but Apple has officially rolled out two-step verification for those users who have an active Apple ID (iTunes, App Store, iCloud etc). The initiative is essentially a process that makes it a lot more difficult for those with scrupulous morals to get access to someone else's Apple ID by implementing an additional security element. Those who are keen to implement an additional security layer will find that making purchases or logging into the ID on a new device will trigger an authentication process that takes the shape of a four-digit code entry.
One of the driving forces behind the popularity of cloud computing and services like Dropbox and Apple's iCloud is the level of accessibility that it brings, and in a lot of circumstances it can make day-to-day computing activities a lot simpler than before. Rather than having to make constant backups of information or carrying external hard drives or USB drives around with us, having important data and files stored in the cloud allows us to quickly get access to that information from pretty much wherever we are as long as we have a network connection.
With iOS 6 beta 3 having just been seeded to developers, details within the changelog concerning the domain names of email addresses are are just beginning to become apparent, and those with a .me account should be aware that the transition to iCloud.com is now underway.
