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Brennen
Supreme tranceaddict

Registered: Dec 2005
Location: Toronto, Ontario
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Apple to restrict jailbroken devices
quote: | An iPhone jailbreak might be considered fair use for owners of the device, but that doesn't mean that Apple is about to quietly go along with the concept of a third-party unlock of its iOS 4 mobile operating system. A recently revealed patent application from Apple�filed in February 2009, but posted two days ago�casts a wide, technological net against would-be device thieves and jailbreakers... possibly both. The patent's called, "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device" and, indeed, that's the aim of the various countermeasures detailed in the filing.
However, Apple first goes to lengths to describe the process by which a device would be able to self-identify that it's been compromised by an unknown party. While this can occur by matching the identity of the phone's user to a predetermined list of authorized device users�including comparing a picture of a user's face to a user database or a recording of one's voice-- it can also involve scanning for the following functions to occur: "hacking the electronic device, jailbreaking the electronic device, unlocking the electronic device, removing a SIM card from the electronic device, and moving at least a predetermined distance away from a synced device."
If an Apple device�like an iPhone�should notice any of this activity taking place, it can deliver a variety of responses. Apple's proposing to allow the device to take keylogs, screenshots, and other records of communications between it and a cell carrier or host computer. As well, the device could respond with a physical, on-screen notification that it's been compromised in some fashion. The bomb hits later in Apple's patent�at least, for those currently jailbreaking their phones. Apple would allow a compromised device to begin limiting features in response to unauthorized access or activity, and it would even be allowed to go as far as to delete all of the "sensitive data" on said device�it's unclear whether this is just restricted to settings and password-type information, or the entirety of a phone's contents.
While these kinds of features might be welcome for enterprise uses of Apple's devices, it remains to be seen just how a jailbroken iPhone might work in the hands of its actual owner. After all, if a jailbroken iPhone is indicative of an unauthorized user, what would happen if the actual owner of the phone�in jailbreaking his or her device�is able to supply credentials to prove ownership? Would the device still permit a jailbreak? Would it explode in one's hand? It might be a little too early in the patent process to decree that Apple is going to start remote-wiping jailbroken iPhones, but the company nevertheless has third-party modifications actively on its mind: be they to protect iPhone owner or otherwise. |
Source: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2368102,00.asp
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Aug-25-2010 12:01
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Playa24_7
Supreme tranceaddict

Registered: Apr 2004
Location:
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quote: | Originally posted by E2EK1EL
Apple Will Be Able To Remotely Disable iPhone After Detecting Unauthorized Activity Such As Hacking, Jailbreaking, Unlocking

U.S Copyright Office had exempted jailbreaking iPhone from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act making it legal for users in the US to jailbreak their iPhone.
At that time, we had mentioned that it wouldn�t stop Apple from making it difficult to jailbreak iOS to stay ahead in the cat and mouse with the iPhone hacking community.
Apple had also clarified that unauthorized modification of the iOS violates the warranty of the iOS-based device.
Apple has applied for a patent titled "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device", which will allow it to remotely disable an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch if it detects any unauthorized activity such as hacking, jailbreaking or unlocking the iOS-based device.
Ars Technica reports:
The patent, titled "Systems and Methods for Identifying Unauthorized Users of an Electronic Device," describes several ways a device could sense who is using an iPhone or iPad. Among the methods considered are voice print analysis, photo analysis, heartbeat analysis (!), hacking attempts, or even "noting particular activities that can indicate suspicious behavior."
The device could automatically snap pictures of the unauthorized user and record the GPS coordinates of the device, as well as log keystrokes, phone calls, or other activity.
Once an unauthorized user is detected, the device can then automatically disable certain features or send notifications to Twitter or other services.
The patent describes how Apple plans to detect an unauthorized user:
[0060]To detect an unauthorized user, process 610 of FIG. 6b can determine whether particular activities are identified at step 612. As described above, the particular activities can include any activities indicating suspicious behavior such as, for example, entering an incorrect password a predetermined number of times in a row, entering an incorrect password a predetermined number of times within a period of time, hacking the electronic device, jailbreaking the electronic device, unlocking of the electronic device, removing a SIM card from the electronic device, moving the electronic device a predetermined distance from a synced device, or any combination of the above. If a particular activity is identified, the current user can be detected as an unauthorized user at step 614. If, however, a particular activity is not identified, process 610 can end at step 616.
Though the patent seems to indicate that Apple�s intention is to protect iPhone users from their device being accessed by an unauthorized user, the description of unauthorized activity has raised eyebrows especially since the patent doesn�t provide details on whether Apple or the owner of the device will have the ability to remotely disable the device.
It will be interesting to see if this controversial feature will be introduced in future iPhones or software updates
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Let us know your views in the comments section below.
[via ArsTechnica, pdf of the patent application] |
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Aug-25-2010 12:17
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