Symantec issues iphone warning

[pendell]

As seen here (http://www.symantec.com/connect/blogs/apple-ids-compromised-iphones-ipads-and-macs-locked-held-ransom). Evidently there's a criminal gang which reports the phone lost, changes the pin, then charges a ransom to unlock it.

Nasty trick. Don't know if it's been done on droid yet, or how to prevent it.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Whoracle]

Oh wonders of modern technology :)

In case anyone wonders: You're safe unless you have created an AppleID and linked the device to it. Last time I checked this wasn't mandatory for iDevices, but highly recommended by Apple. And as has been shown before, Apple can't be bothered to spend a little bit of their cash on their security infrastructure... *sigh*

As for droids:
This particular attack won't work on them if you
a) don't have a google account, or if you
b) have one but also have an Exchange account configured on your phone, because then you can simply remote wipe your phone via Exchange and then create a new google account on it.

I don't know if that works if you have a google account. Don't know if google lets you remote wipe your device via that account. Better assume it is so, and better assume that google is as bad in handling security as Apple is. Root your device and backup the NAND. Best way to be sure.

Also, prevention:
Don't make accounts with the manufacturers that can let you remotely control the devices. If you don't have such an account, it can't be hacked.