iOS 12.1 has landed and it is Apple's AAPL +1.57% first major upgrade to iOS 12, bringing some major new features and important fixes. Unfortunately, however, it comes with two significant problems of its own…
The first is something that has become an increasing concern for Apple: lockscreen security. In short: a hack was discovered to bypass Face ID and Touch ID giving hackers access to your personal contacts. Moreover, the hack was found within just two hours of iOS 12.1 being released and it’s worryingly simple.
Shown off by in the video below by security researcher Jose Rodriguez, the hacker simply calls your iPhone from another iPhone and, once connected, the call is turned into a FaceTime video call and ‘Add Person’ pressed on the target iPhone. This brings up the device’s full contact list and using the 3D Touch shortcut on any contact reveals additional data such as their phone numbers, email addresses and more.
The flaw is specific to iOS 12.1 as it doesn’t work on any other version of iOS and, ironically, it affects premium iPhones most as cheaper models like the iPhone XR and iPhone SE don’t have 3D Touch.
But the biggest worry is how fast this hack was discovered.
Apple loves to promote its devices as having the best security in the industry, but this hack is far from a one-off. Rodriguez has found simple lockscreen bypasses in every iOS 12 release so far, with two in iOS 12 (1,2) and another in iOS 12.0.1 (link) prior to the iOS 12.1 hack today.
As for the other iOS 12.1 problem, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X owners might want to look away now.
Despite Apple promising owners of these phones last year that they would not be subject to the same controversial performance throttling the company applies to older iPhones, iOS 12.1 has introduced it for all three models.
Forbes’ Ewan Spence has written about this, and Apple already faces almost 60 Class Action lawsuits in the US and legal action from multiple governments around the world for silently introducing what many deem is ‘planned obsolescence’ and Italy has already issued fines. So iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR owners, clearly it will be your turn this time next year.
And note, this may not be the end of the problems.
My iOS 12.1 Upgrade Guide reports cases of graphics glitches, WiFi problems and battery life complaints. So you would be wise delay your upgrade unless you suffer from one of the flaws it does fix.
All in all, it’s a disappointingly rocky start for iOS 12. Especially given Apple has promoted it as being a back-to-basics focus on speed, stability and security. On the plus side, iOS 12 is packed with numerous secret featureswhich show Apple does still care about finely crafting its software.
What next? I would expect iOS 12.1.1 to arrive as a dedicated bug fix before the end of November. Unsurprisingly, Apple has already announced it is in beta testing...
The first is something that has become an increasing concern for Apple: lockscreen security. In short: a hack was discovered to bypass Face ID and Touch ID giving hackers access to your personal contacts. Moreover, the hack was found within just two hours of iOS 12.1 being released and it’s worryingly simple.
Shown off by in the video below by security researcher Jose Rodriguez, the hacker simply calls your iPhone from another iPhone and, once connected, the call is turned into a FaceTime video call and ‘Add Person’ pressed on the target iPhone. This brings up the device’s full contact list and using the 3D Touch shortcut on any contact reveals additional data such as their phone numbers, email addresses and more.
The flaw is specific to iOS 12.1 as it doesn’t work on any other version of iOS and, ironically, it affects premium iPhones most as cheaper models like the iPhone XR and iPhone SE don’t have 3D Touch.
But the biggest worry is how fast this hack was discovered.
Apple loves to promote its devices as having the best security in the industry, but this hack is far from a one-off. Rodriguez has found simple lockscreen bypasses in every iOS 12 release so far, with two in iOS 12 (1,2) and another in iOS 12.0.1 (link) prior to the iOS 12.1 hack today.
As for the other iOS 12.1 problem, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X owners might want to look away now.
Despite Apple promising owners of these phones last year that they would not be subject to the same controversial performance throttling the company applies to older iPhones, iOS 12.1 has introduced it for all three models.
Forbes’ Ewan Spence has written about this, and Apple already faces almost 60 Class Action lawsuits in the US and legal action from multiple governments around the world for silently introducing what many deem is ‘planned obsolescence’ and Italy has already issued fines. So iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and iPhone XR owners, clearly it will be your turn this time next year.
And note, this may not be the end of the problems.
My iOS 12.1 Upgrade Guide reports cases of graphics glitches, WiFi problems and battery life complaints. So you would be wise delay your upgrade unless you suffer from one of the flaws it does fix.
All in all, it’s a disappointingly rocky start for iOS 12. Especially given Apple has promoted it as being a back-to-basics focus on speed, stability and security. On the plus side, iOS 12 is packed with numerous secret featureswhich show Apple does still care about finely crafting its software.
What next? I would expect iOS 12.1.1 to arrive as a dedicated bug fix before the end of November. Unsurprisingly, Apple has already announced it is in beta testing...
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