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iPhone virus? Has anyone else seen this?

And people say Macs don't get viruses...

It seems pretty obvious that most of these problems are being caused after hacking and installing 3rd party apps. I have had several problems since jailbreaking mine, in fact I am having a totally new problem now. I'm already on my second iphone (and likely soon to be 3rd) since my first one self destructed when the battery overheated just 2 months after I bought it and now my second phone is no longer recognized by my computer just days after upgrading to 1.1.1 firmware and using the jailbreakme.com method and installing appsnapp. Who knows what invisible files are being installed to reek havoc with the system files on your phone. If I could restore mine back to it's original factory state right now I would but I can't even get my computer to see it anymore. My phone is, once again, completely jacked up since hacking it. :mad:
 
It's still an apple product that runs software. It would be easy for someone who has exploited the iphone's vulnerabilities i.e. the TIFF exploit to write malware that would hijack the phone which is what seems to be happening with mine. Jailbreaking to install an installer program that downloads 3rd party apps onto your phone... TROJAN?
 
Well, a trojan isn't a virus.

I don't think that anyone would argue that the current jailbreaking apps are trojans in themselves. Could they be used to install trojans? Sure, but so can Apple's installer framework on the Mac and so can Windows Installer. No security system can prevent a sufficiently determined user who wants to install an app from some website: it's up to you to make sure what you're installing is safe.
 
I'm just saying that since the iphone has been relatively easy to hack and so many people are jailbreaking theirs to customize and install 3rd party apps it's a virtual free-for-all for anyone who wanted to iphuc (if you'll pardon the pun) with your iphone and sneaking in some malicious code to do everything from putting annoying little bugs on your screen to locking you out during a call to self destructing the battery. This is why Apple stands behind their policy that you are voiding your warranty and doing so at your own risk.
 
decadentdave said:
I'm just saying that since the iphone has been relatively easy to hack and so many people are jailbreaking theirs to customize and install 3rd party apps it's a virtual free-for-all for anyone who wanted to iphuc (if you'll pardon the pun) with your iphone and sneaking in some malicious code to do everything from putting annoying little bugs on your screen to locking you out during a call to self destructing the battery. This is why Apple stands behind their policy that you are voiding your warranty and doing so at your own risk.
Click to expand...

I would suggest that most people don't care.

I don't disagree with you, but judging from the posts I have seen on here anyway, people want the functionality rather than the security.
 
decadentdave said:
I'm just saying that since the iphone has been relatively easy to hack and so many people are jailbreaking theirs to customize and install 3rd party apps it's a virtual free-for-all for anyone who wanted to iphuc (if you'll pardon the pun) with your iphone and sneaking in some malicious code to do everything from putting annoying little bugs on your screen to locking you out during a call to self destructing the battery. This is why Apple stands behind their policy that you are voiding your warranty and doing so at your own risk.
Click to expand...

True, true: the secure thing to do is to not jailbreak and to wait until apps developed with the proper SDK are released. Depending on how they're distributed, of course, you might still have to be careful what you install then (unless they're all tested/approved by Apple and distributed via iTunes, for example).
 
Well, i understand decadent's concern but who has heard of their iphone's battery exploding? If there were reports of malicious things happening to iphones then i would be cautious about jailbreaking. You have safe sources to install apps from for a reason, they warn you to not just install packages form just anyone.... and for the security part, if you use appsnapp it fixes the tiff exploit by itself for you and even if you jailbreak another method, you can fix the tiff through installer:)
 
decadentdave said:
And people say Macs don't get viruses...

It seems pretty obvious that most of these problems are being caused after hacking and installing 3rd party apps. I have had several problems since jailbreaking mine, in fact I am having a totally new problem now. I'm already on my second iphone (and likely soon to be 3rd) since my first one self destructed when the battery overheated just 2 months after I bought it and now my second phone is no longer recognized by my computer just days after upgrading to 1.1.1 firmware and using the jailbreakme.com method and installing appsnapp. Who knows what invisible files are being installed to reek havoc with the system files on your phone. If I could restore mine back to it's original factory state right now I would but I can't even get my computer to see it anymore. My phone is, once again, completely jacked up since hacking it. :mad:
Click to expand...
Dont know what you have tried, but... If not, then try it. While the iPhone is on.. Press and hold down the Home and Sleep Button for 10 Seconds (exactly, even when its off) (do this while connected to your computer). Once its been 10 seconds, let go of the sleep button and open iTUnes (with your finger still on home)... Your iPhone (theoretically) should show up.. even though yoru iPhone may look off, its actually in software restore mode.
 
Yeah I finally got it to go into recovery mode but it took me about a dozen tries to force it holding down both buttons it would only reboot to the home screen. I almost panicked thinking my phone was bricked until it miraculously went into recovery mode. The question is what jacked up my files to put it in that state? I'm not jailbreaking anymore until the SDK is released.
 
Sobe said:
Why would the phone have viruses?

It's not like anyone deliberately exploited security holes in it and made changes provided by hackers or anything...
Click to expand...

Hey, Sobe.

I noticed that you used the word "hackers" as if hackers were inherently untrustworthy. Hackers are merely those who have certain abilities. Hackers are no more or less nefarious than the next person.

It's incorrect to think that an unjailbroken device is inherently more secure than an a jailbroken one. It is less secure. Until Apple fixes the TIFF security hole (which should be tomorrow), your entire device is compromised if you are tricked into visiting a malicious URL. If you jailbreak with the newer methods, that security hole is fixed.

The security hole existed before hackers found it. It was not as if hackers suddenly caused it to magically appear for everyone. If those who were trying to jailbreak hadn't found it, other individuals would have later. It's possible those individuals would have been less high-minded, kept its existence secret, and developed worms to take advantage of it rather than utilities.

Another thing: Code is still code whether or not it uses documented features or undocumented "features" (the TIFF exploit). When you install any application, whether it be the jailbreak, Microsoft Office, the NES emulator, or that fun looking attachment you received in your e-mail yesterday, you're trusting the code to not do bad stuff to you or your device.

The jailbreak uses a security vulnerability. That fun-looking attachment uses all official, documented Windows features. Which is more trustworthy?

It's not about how "official" something is. The jailbreak is trustworthy because many people have used it without incident. Many people have vetted the publicly available source code.

However, naturally not every random iPhone app has not been subject to such scrutiny, and you need to exercise your judgment. In jail, you're naturally safe because you're put in a straitjacket. After jailbreak, you can now choose to have things hurt you. But you still have to choose to do so.
 
planetbeing said:
Hey, Sobe.

I noticed that you used the word "hackers" as if hackers were inherently untrustworthy. Hackers are merely those who have certain abilities. Hackers are no more or less nefarious than the next person.

It's incorrect to think that an unjailbroken device is inherently more secure than an a jailbroken one. It is less secure. Until Apple fixes the TIFF security hole (which should be tomorrow), your entire device is compromised if you are tricked into visiting a malicious URL. If you jailbreak with the newer methods, that security hole is fixed.

The security hole existed before hackers found it. It was not as if hackers suddenly caused it to magically appear for everyone. If those who were trying to jailbreak hadn't found it, other individuals would have later. It's possible those individuals would have been less high-minded, kept its existence secret, and developed worms to take advantage of it rather than utilities.

Another thing: Code is still code whether or not it uses documented features or undocumented "features" (the TIFF exploit). When you install any application, whether it be the jailbreak, Microsoft Office, the NES emulator, or that fun looking attachment you received in your e-mail yesterday, you're trusting the code to not do bad stuff to you or your device.

The jailbreak uses a security vulnerability. That fun-looking attachment uses all official, documented Windows features. Which is more trustworthy?

It's not about how "official" something is. The jailbreak is trustworthy because many people have used it without incident. Many people have vetted the publicly available source code.

However, naturally not every random iPhone app has not been subject to such scrutiny, and you need to exercise your judgment. In jail, you're naturally safe because you're put in a straitjacket. After jailbreak, you can now choose to have things hurt you. But you still have to choose to do so.
Click to expand...

I understand where you are coming from, but I think in your desire to describe hackers and the situation fairly, you're missing a fundamental point.

That point is that even if the jailbroken TIFF exploit is fixed after the fact by newer methods, that process encourages and allows people to put applications on the iPhone of dubious provenance and intent.

It may be that jailbreaking your iPhone just to patch the TIFF exploit and then doing nothing else to it may be the best solution in terms of security right now.

And that should be commended.

Ultimately though, and pertaining directly to this thread, we have people opening up their phones and putting files on them with no real means to check for their friendliness other than "I tried it and my iPhone didn't melt."

If people aren't actively trying to exploit users desire for 3rd party applications by providing ones that do nefarious things, it is only a matter of time.

I'd suggest that it must be happening already, we just don't recognize it as such.

Thoughtful post though, thanks for the response.
 
cmcbridejr said:
I am beginning to think that I may have triggered an Easter Egg.

I have seen that Apple still hides Easter Eggs in their OS and programs (even Leopard with the BSOD).

I don't have any unusual apps installed, and I only install apps that I know I will use and have been used/tested by so many other people.

I just can't come to the conclusion that this may be a virus, or at least, the symptons are obvious.

Here's why:

1) I was merely making a phone call and not using any 3rd party apps at the time (other than the ones that constantly run - summerboard and themes)

2) I was able to reset the iPhone from the "bugged" screen and everything seems fine and stable

3) All programs are still functioning just fine on my iPhone

4) Most of all, it just looked and seemed too funny (2 centipedes or millipedes crawling around the screen letting me know I just "bugged" my iPhone)

5) No one else is reporting any problems/viruses (and I'm sure at least over100,000 people have "hacked" their iPhone and installed the typical 3rd party apps like myself)

6) I know that my home network has not been compromised and I don't join any untrusted networks

I really hope that someone out there has also seen this same "bugged" screen, as I don't want to be the only one with a story to tell.

I guess I will take a photo next time if it ever happens again.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a lose wire. My phone did it once. I didn't think much of it, because it went back and worked as normal.
 
planetbeing said:
However, naturally not every random iPhone app has not been subject to such scrutiny, and you need to exercise your judgment. In jail, you're naturally safe because you're put in a straitjacket. After jailbreak, you can now choose to have things hurt you. But you still have to choose to do so.
Click to expand...

If a stranger offers you a drink, do you take it? Just because it looks safe, how do you know they haven't put poison in it? People are far too trusting that if it looks and tastes like it should then it is okay for them.
 
I thought Sobe’s negativity was all geared towards Canadians only. Apparently the negativity is geared towards a wide variety of subjects and numerous Macrumors members.
 
A strange thing happened to me too! I was listening to music and then all of a sudden a quicktime clip played that I had paused in Safari. Then It when to the "Slide to Unlock" Page and the volume started going up and down with the icon thingy from tiger when you put the Vol. up and down!!

So weird... (on iPod touch by the way)
 
the iphone updates have not just contained ways to kill jail breaking they have also been sealing virus holds.

as the iphone is on arm arc it is likely that a windows/linux virus tried to install on your phone and locked it up.
 
cmcbridejr said:
I have seen that Apple still hides Easter Eggs in their OS and programs (even Leopard with the BSOD).
Click to expand...

Actually, Apple and most other OS vendors have tended away from including Easter Eggs... because they open up security holes that are not found by testing. Indeed, they are designed to be hidden-- much like trojans, but implanted on purpose.

Name an actual Easter Egg on par of those from the System 7 era, or OS 8, or even early versions Quicktime. Holding Shift to slow UI transitions? Hardly. The BSOD in Leopard is not activated nor hidden; it is an image in plain sight. Funny, but not too Easter Egg like. Linkety to some real Easter Eggs. (See the one about changing the file type and creator? THAT is an Easter Egg!)
 
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