Apple iOS 10 Beta Features An Unencrypted Kernel

Apple iOS 10

According to a recent report, Apple iOS 10 preview that is released last week to developers, has an unencrypted kernel. This gives users, unrestricted access to the inner workings of the operating system and helps them spot any potential vulnerabilities.

Apple usually encrypts the kernel of iOS in every it has released. We do not know whether it was intentional so that security researchers and developers can spot vulnerabilities. Or it could be an embarrassing simple mistake.

Security experts say the famously secretive company may have adopted a bold new strategy intended to encourage more people to report bugs in its software—or perhaps made an embarrassing mistake. Apple declined to comment on why it didn’t follow its usual procedure.

According to MIT Technology Review, leaving iOS unencrypted does not leave the security of iOS 10 compromised. However, it makes it easier to find flaws in the operating system. This allows Apple to quickly patch these security holes to prevent hackers from breaking into the iPhone. Security flaws in iOS can be used to create jailbreaks or create malware.

That doesn’t mean the security of iOS 10 is compromised. But looking for flaws in this version of the operating system will be much easier, says Jonathan Levin, author of an in-depth book on the internal workings of iOS. “It reduces the complexity of reverse engineering considerably”, he says.

The goodies exposed publicly for the first time include a security measure designed to protect the kernel from being modified, says security researcher Mathew Solnik. “Now that it is public, people will be able to study it [and] potentially find ways around it”, he says.

Apple has not made a comment on whether the lack of encryption was intentional or a mistake. However, security experts believe that it was done by choice because it is not a mistake Apple is likely to have made. Also, we have to remember that suddenly opening the kernel will also make it easier for malware developers to target iOS 10. While this is a gamble, it is also a pretty bold move that could help Apple to make iOS much safer.

Source

Tags:

Haridas Gowra Avatar

Help Us Grow

If you like this post, please share it with your friends.

You are free to copy and redistribute this article in any medium or format, as long as you keep the links in the article or provide a link back to this page.

Subscribe to Newsletter




Privacy Settings

Privacy & Cookie Overview

Our website uses cookies to provide you with the best user experience possible. These cookies are stored in your browser and perform essential functions such as recognizing you when you return to our website, as well as helping us to understand which sections of the website you find most useful and engaging.

To learn more, you can read our Privacy & Cookie Policy or reach out through our Contact form.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookies must always be enabled to ensure the proper functioning of this website and to allow us to provide you with excellent service. These cookies are also essential for saving your cookie preferences.

Google Adsense

We use Google AdSense to keep this site free by displaying relevant ads. AdSense requires essential cookies that cannot be disabled, but you can manage other cookies. We respect your privacy and provide options to control non-essential cookies.

For more details on how Google handles your data, visit Google's Data Usage Policy. Please review our Privacy Policy for more information on how we protect your data.

AddToAny

We use AddToAny for social sharing. It doesnโ€™t store cookies, ensuring a privacy-friendly experience. AddToAny complies with GDPR and CCPA by default.

For more, see their Privacy Policy.

OneSignal

We use OneSignal to send notifications to users who opt in. OneSignal complies with GDPR and is certified under the EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield frameworks.

For more, see their Privacy Policy.

3rd Party Cookies

This website utilizes third-party cookies, which can enhance your experience and support our ongoing efforts to improve our services.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymous data, such as visitor numbers and popular pages, to improve user experience and site performance. Keeping this cookie enabled helps us refine the site based on visitor activity.

For more information, see Googleโ€™s Privacy Policy.

Discover more from Prime Inspiration

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading