Apple releases 45 iPhone patches

 

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By Reuters

Posted on 18 Jun 2009 at 08:15

Apple has released 45 software patches to address rare security vulnerabilities in the iPhone and iPod touch.

The company released them as part of its widely anticipated iPhone 3.0 OS.

"This is a large cluster of patches for the iPhone," says Dino Dai Zovi, a security expert who is writing a book on cracking the iPhone.

Apple has a stellar reputation when it comes to securing its devices. While it is unusual for the company to issue so many patches at once, analysts have yet to uncover any malicious software directly targeting the iPhone since Apple entered the mobile phone market two years ago.

"Given the breadth of feature and functionality within the iPhone OS, it is not surprising that Apple would have security patches," says Cross Research analyst Shannon Cross.

Hackers have traditionally focused most of their time on writing programs that attack PCs Windows, because of its domination of the PC market.

Analysts expect that to change because sales of mobile devices are soaring as the PC industry slumps. Apple's iPhones and iPods are dominant players in the rapidly growing sector.

"They are no longer dumb devices used only to make phone calls. They hold a wealth of personal information and in some cases are being used as electronic wallets," says Joris Evers, a spokesman for security software maker McAfee.

Apple rival Research in Motion recently issued a security patch for its popular BlackBerry, addressing a glitch that had potential to let hackers use the device to break into corporate computer networks.