Hackers scoffing at iPhone 3GS' hardware encryption
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Jul 24th 2009 12:19AM
posted Jul 24th 2009 12:19AM
There were other features taking higher billing in the iPhone 3GS' announcement than its hardware-level encryption -- hell, even the magnetic compass was getting more play -- but it's there, and Apple's actively marketing the bit-scrambling capability to enterprise clients. Problem is, hackers are apparently having a field day with it, rendering it useless in all but name. One iPhone dev (who teaches courses on pulling data off iPhones, coincidentally) goes so far to say that he doesn't "think any of us have ever seen encryption implemented so poorly before," noting that it's no more difficult for him to pull data off a 3GS than it is off an encryption-free 3G. He goes on to point out that RIM -- which has far more experience dealing with enterprise-class mobile fleets than Apple does -- offers a far more robust remote wipe solution that doesn't necessarily need to rely on an active wireless connection to clear a phone. The lesson? As overwhelmingly popular as the iPhone may be across every market segment, these guys are still the new kids on the enterprise block -- and RIM (and heck, Microsoft, too) would be wise to stand their ground here.
Chris, you're being a little naive here believing everything the Jonathan guy says.
First of all consider the source... This is th same guy that applied for a job at Apple and was denied. He has had a axe to grind against Apple for years now. He does not pursue any other platform in trying to poke holes the way he does with the iPhone. Bottom line, he's biased and not a objective source of information.
Two, if you honestly believe the blackberry is super secure, you do not know the facts. Blackberries are hacked regularly, as our IT dept has had nothing but trouble with the remote wipe system you seem to applaud here.
Also, why did you not include the facts from last year's hacker symposium in Las Vegas where they held a contest for who could hack each platform the fastest? Every platform was successfully hacked. And the iPhone 3G with no hardware encryption was the device tested last year, yet the blackberry was hacked faster than the iPhone was at that contest.
So what does that tell you? Anyone that wants to hack a device can if given the time, and the blackberry s no better than the iPhone in that area. Jonathan spends WAY more time trying to hack iPhones than any other devices. So it took him almost a month to figure out how to do it on a 3GS, good for him. If he tried as hard on a BB Bold or Tour, it would probably take less than a week. The hackers at the symposium last year did it in 2 days!
Oh, and by the way...
At the Pwn2own hackers contest in March, none of the 5 smartphones were successfully hacked, including the older iPhone 3G. This contest was limited to using only stock apps and hardware, not customized apps. When 3rd party apps were allowed, all fell eventually.
This again demonstrates that the iPhone is no more vulnerable than the blackberry or any other smartphone.
I might also add that the guy was using jailbreak iPhone. So it wasn't very meaningful, IMHO.
Mutter...mutter...apple sucks.
Of Course! Apple is the WORST when it comes to security even tho they try to say they're the Best at Protecting. Ha what a JOKE the only reason it "LOOKS" like that is because of the tiny tiny userbase.
Thats it!.
; D