iPhone SMS hack to be unveiled for all to see

The iPhone - open to exploitation
The iPhone - open to exploitation

An SMS message that lets hackers take over iPhones remotely is set to be exposed at a Black Hat conference.

The flaw allows the hacker to gain access to nearly all access of the phone, meaning the camera, browser and phone functions can be remotely used.

Charlie Miller, the security researcher who uncovered the flaw (along with fellow researcher Collin Mulliner) says he has notified Apple to the problem, and the company hasn't (yet) responded with a patch.

The hack works by sending 512 text messages to a phone (although only one is visible) and then using an exploit in software to let the code from the text overrun into other parts of the phone.

Unknown attacker

The symbol on the one message could actually be changed to anything, so the person wouldn't know they've been the victim of an attack.

The hack will then use the phone to send texts to other users, meaning if left unchecked it could easily spread around the world.

The duo both say they've given Apple more time than ever to respond to the attack, yet it hasn't released a patch, so will be going ahead and revealing the exploit.

They've also found a similar problem with Windows Mobile, but admit they only found that last week and haven't notified Microsoft as yet.

Via Forbes

Gareth Beavis
Formerly Global Editor in Chief

Gareth has been part of the consumer technology world in a career spanning three decades. He started life as a staff writer on the fledgling TechRadar, and has grown with the site (primarily as phones, tablets and wearables editor) until becoming Global Editor in Chief in 2018. Gareth has written over 4,000 articles for TechRadar, has contributed expert insight to a number of other publications, chaired panels on zeitgeist technologies, presented at the Gadget Show Live as well as representing the brand on TV and radio for multiple channels including Sky, BBC, ITV and Al-Jazeera. Passionate about fitness, he can bore anyone rigid about stress management, sleep tracking, heart rate variance as well as bemoaning something about the latest iPhone, Galaxy or OLED TV.