Category Archives: Apple
In the wake of the Flashback Trojan, Apple quietly puts out an updated Java security patch
Earlier this week, Apple released a Java security update, 2012-001, to patch the Flashback vulnerability that a security company claims affected 600,000 Macs.
Late this evening, we are getting reports from readers that a new version of the Java update is becoming available via Software Update.
Flashback Trojan
The latest update, Java for OS X 2012-002, supersedes the -001 update Apple released earlier this week, and indeed the KB article linked from the -002 update is still the -001 version (below).
Update: Apple sent a note out to its Java Community, below, with the ‘why’ (small issue they are the same but for a few symlinks and version numbers.)
Do you need to worry about that Facebook iOS security issue?
Probably not.
The “hacks” require the attacker to have physical access to your device (whether it be Android or iOS). That could be a speaker dock, a charging station, or a friend’s computer, but it still requires you to plug the iPhone into something compromised or give up physical access to it.
The issue, as Gareth Wright first discovered, is that Facebook stores saved account information in a plaintext file that can be transferred to another phone and used to log into your Facebook account without signing in. Other services, like Dropbox, were also shown to have the same vulnerability (but that is disputed).
This is why, when you restore a phone from a backup, you already have access to your Facebook app without having to sign-in again. Facebook attempted to dispel the concern by claiming that a phone would need to be compromised for this to work. That is untrue.
However, as we know, once someone with the right software has your iPhone, your information is pretty much his or hers to use.
Pod2g Hands Over the A4 Jailbreak to Chronic Dev-Team to Focus on A5 Devices
Pod2g has announced that he’s handed over the A4 to the Chronic Dev-Team and is focusing all his energy on completing the A5 (iPhone 4S, iPad 2) jailbreak.
I read the comments on the blog, and I know that a lot of people are waiting for the A5 jailbreak. Also, I know there are tons of people out there with A4 or even earlier devices who wants the untether now and don’t care about it could be interesting to wait A5 is finished to release or even 5.1, so that we don’t waste an exploit that took me months to find and develop.
I need to focus on A5 and hope I can find a path quick, and I have the feeling that chronic-dev could help me. So, here is what I did:
● I gave all the details to the chronic dev team so that they can finish, test, integrate and release the A4 jb ASAP.
● I’ll put all my energy from now on on the A5
For those waiting for an untethered jailbreak on the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPod Touch 4G, iPod Touch 3G, and iPad 1, it means you’ll see a release sooner than later.
Pod2g recently demonstrated his jailbreak on the iPhone 4. You can watch that here.
We’ll let you know as soon as Chronic Dev-Team provides information on its release. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or check out the new iClarified menu app.
Pod2g Demos Untethered iOS 5.0.1 Jailbreak on the iPhone 4 [Video]
Pod2g has posted a video demonstrating an untethered jailbreak of iOS 5.0.1 on the iPhone 4.
Here is a new video demo of the current status of the 5.0.1 jailbreak running on an iPhone 4. This is meant to reassure people that were thinking it only works on older iPods.
The jailbreak is near ready for prime time (excluding 4S and iPad 2). Patches are the same as redsn0w’s. Expect the same level of stability. Some more days to wait. Be patient, we’re doing our best.
As usual you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and RSS to be notified of any progress updates.
Bronze Statue of Steve Jobs Unveiled in Budapest
Graphisoft Park and AIT-Budapest have dedicated a statue honoring the late Steve Jobs in Budapest today, according to a press release from the company.
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Commissioned by GRAPHISOFT Founder and Chairman of the Board, Gabor Bojar, the statue is the first in the world honoring the late founder of Apple, who passed away on October 5. Crafted by Hungarian sculptor Erno Toth, the life-like bronze statue stands near the entrance of architectural software maker GRAPHISOFT’s Budapest headquarters.
The relationship between GRAPHISOFT and Apple can be traced to the 1980′s, when Jobs came across the first version of GRAPHISOFT’s ArchiCAD software at the 1984 CeBIT in Germany. His first impressions of the software led him to throw Apple’s support behind the development and distribution of ArchiCAD. “Apple’s support included cash and computers at a time when GRAPHISOFT was a small company with limited resources, working within the economic and political confines of what was, at the time, communist Hungary,” Gabor Bojar said. Apple also introduced GRAPHISOFT to its worldwide distribution network, which remains a cornerstone of the business today. “With its attention to excellence in every detail, Graphisoft Park’s environment embodies the spirit of Steve Jobs” Viktor Varkonyi, CEO of GRAPHISOFT said. “I can’t think of a better place to commemorate the man and his legacy,” he continued.
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We have some more pictures of the statue being created in a previous article. You can take a look at the final product below…
Bronze Statue of Steve Jobs Commissioned
Gabor Bojar, founder of Graphisoft, has commissioned a bronze statue of Steve Jobs, reports BusinessInsider.
Bojar met Jobs in 1984 at a trade show in Germany where Graphisoft was demonstrating its 3D modeling software on a Lisa computer. Jobs was such a fan that Graphisoft “received some financial support and Steve Jobs helped us distribute our products in the Apple distribution network,” said Akos Pfemeter, director of global marketing.
The statue is being sculpted by Hungarian artist Erno Toth and will reside in Graphisoft Park, a Budapest commercial complex that houses several technology companies.
Apple Products Throughout an Epic History
In todays day and age it isn’t uncommon to see products belonging to large brands appearing unashamedly throughout Hollywood blockbusters. The general public refer to this type of advertising as product placement but a more common name is embedded marketing which is when a well known branded product is placed in a context usually outside of the advertisement sphere like a movie music video or a television show.
In a study put together in 2006 a television trade magazine named Broadcasting & Cable reported that approximately two thirds of advertisers employ some form of branded entertainment in the hope that viewers of the movie or television show could make some form of emotional connection to the featured product. When talking about major movie productions, embedded marketing can trace its roots back to 1927 in a film called Wings which featured a plug for Hershey’s chocolate. Although at the time this form of advertising was extremely rare, and didn’t become common place until the early 1990′s.
I often find myself sitting through a movie purposely looking to see if I can spot any instances of big name brands appearing, and although I have probably missed a large proportion of the movies plot, it is quite intriguing to actually see how often household named products appear. In 2010 Apple was recognized and awarded the prize for overall product placement in movies by Brandcameo after they announced that the brand featured in ten (30%) of the years thirty three number one box office films. This statistic meant that Apple appeared more than any other household name including Nike, Chevrolet, Sony, Dell and Land Rover which all featured in the top five.
With the above award in mind, it should come as no surprise that Apple products actually feature quite frequently throughout Hollywood, with noticeable appearances in movies such as Independence Day, Mission Impossible, Legally Blonde, Step Up 3D and Law Abiding Citizen. Bearing these figures in mind, the good people at AnyClip set about creating an impressive infographic using their own AnyClip Solutions API to showcase not only Apple product placement in cinema through history, but to also produce a ratio of appearances compared to other products.
One interesting thing about this graphic is the contrast of product placement between movies. The Transformers movie is well known to be splattered with a plethora of companies products, and although Apple products appear on screen for a combined total of six minutes, this only accounts for 1% of total placement. This is in direct contrast to a movie such as You’ve Got Mail in which Apple products accounted for 33% of all product appearances. The fantastic graphic is shown below, are you shocked by any of the films that Apple has been featured in?
Pod2G Finds Another Untethered Jailbreak Vulnerability
Pod2g has announced that he’s found another untethered jailbreak vulnerability.
Hey, another untethered vulnerability found ! 
Look at the registers, all are controllable
This is excellent news for jailbreakers many of which have been without an untethered jailbreak for quite some time.
Both comex and the Chronic Dev-Team have untethered jailbreaks in the works. The Chronic Dev-Team recently demonstrated theirs and plans to release it soon.
If you have your iOS 4.2b3 SHSH blobs saved and need to untether you can follow this Mactutorial. An upcoming update to redsn0w will bring support for iOS 4.1 SHSH blobs and Windows.
New Exploit Could Bring Jailbreak for iOS 4.1 [Update x2]
A new exploit credited to @pod2g could bring about a jailbreak for iOS 4.1, according to a series of tweets from MuscleNerd.
Earlier today @pod2g tweeted the following decryption keys:
iPhone 4G iBSS 4.0.1: iv=91f94e5d726a2d2f2c7ffad58d4f3b77
key=d05c3c40db40e738926f811b8b13140
38d26096c4102461698a49098c47a3fe6
MuscleNerd then tweets:
congrats to @pod2g for the latest exploit and also @p0sixninja who have been trying for months.
Crazy timing that @pod2g got latest exploit just as 4.1 went public (lots of work left…keep away from 4.1 for now!)
We’ll keep you up to date on the situation as we learn more. Please remember not to upgrade to iOS 4.1.
Update:
Good news from @pod2g
Works on 4.1 (!) iBSS iv=c2c5416472e5a0d6f0a25a123d5a2b1c key=1fbc7dcafaec21a150a51eb0eb99367550e24a077b128831b28c065e61f894a0
Update x2:
Exploit is confirmed working for the iPod Touch 4G as well. A source has told BGR that in order to patch this particular bootrom hack Apple would need “a whole new processor rev.” A re-flashed or patched bootrom for the current hardware would not be sufficient.
Pod2g Discovers Vulnerability That Can Untether the iOS 5 Jailbreak!
Pod2g has announced the discovery of a bug that can untether the iOS 5 jailbreak!
Hey jailbreaking friends, I’ve found a bug that can untether iOS 5. Don’t expect a release soon, but I’m gonna work hard in it.
Pod2g has been behind the discovery of numerous other vulnerabilities including SHAtter.
We’ll keep you up to date with pod2g’s progress on the untethered jailbreak of iOS 5. You can follow us on Twitter or Facebook for instant notifications.