Wednesday, August 04, 2010

iPhone, iPad Users Be Careful About Opening Attachments

From the beginning of the spam days, bad people have written applications and attached them to emails and sent them out. 

Through our server clusters running AINEO Secure, we see all sorts of scams and attacks.  We nail pretty much everything but that doesn’t mean that any of us should be ignorant users.

For security threats through mail, the usual mode of operation (MO) is to attach some type of software file that contains a variant payload of application that will do something to your computer.

For iPhone and iPad users, there is a new problem variant of similar problems.  Attackers have figured out how to commandeer an Apple device through a compromised PDF file.

If a user opens one of these PDF files from their phone or tablet computer, the software is activated an your device is compromised.  When opening attachments here are some similar things to think about-

1) Do you know the sender?

2) Did you ask for the file?

3) Is it a silly file or something that your sender would normally send to you?

4) What is the filename of the attachment?  If in doubt, call the sender and ask if they sent it.  If you don’t care, just delete it. Better safe than sorry.

Let’s all be smart messaging users.  It will help us avoid compromising our IT systems and ending up suffering any major financial loses.

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE67250I20100803

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