Privacy, Security & Virus Information

If you don't want to Meet Rick Astley, don't Jailbreak
your iPhone

It has to be said that the iPhone is probably the most modern yet complex piece of cellular equipment available on the market today. As is the case with almost all of the smart mobile devices currently available, the iPhone uses public key cryptography through code signing signatures. This is done in order to restrict the kind of applications that can be run on the device. The more cynical among us might be inclined to say that at Apple they are only interested in selling their approved applications and adds-on which earn them a healthy commission; while there are others who would hasten to point out that Apple simply doesn't want to leave this precious piece of sophisticated equipment of theirs vulnerable to all kinds of viruses and malicious software.

Those who are unable to withstand the temptation of trying some of the more enticing third party applications do so by "jailbreaking" their iPhone, after which it is considered " jailbroke", in the common vernacular. Most iPhones survive and even benefit from the procedure, while an alarming number are left susceptible to a variety of viruses. Some of these viruses are fairly innocent, although an increasing number are alarmingly toxic.

The innocent one which goes by the name of Ikee, for reasons known only to those who developed it, changes the wallpaper on the iPhone to a picture of that well-known and not often imitated pop icon of the late nineteen eighties, Rick Astley. Anyone being "Ikeed" should accept the warning and do whatever is necessary to make sure that their iPhone is secure: the reason being that there are even more powerful and sinister worms around which will invade your private information and take advantage of it to deprive you of your hard-earned cash.

If you own an iPhone and are interested in trying some of the third party applications, you owe it to yourself as well as to your family, friends and colleagues, to make sure that your personal details as well as theirs are protected. You can do so by installing some anti-virus software and the stronger the better. Because if you don't, in the words of Rick Astley, these worms are "never gonna give you up".

 

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