A new malware threat for iOS has already been headed off by Apple, it seems.
Yesterday we reported on the discovery of the YiSpecter malware threat, which has been affecting some iOS devices in China and Taiwan over the past ten months.
The worrying thing about YiSpecter is that it affects jailbroken and non-jailbroken iPhones alike through a private API exploit. This is a worrying new breakthrough for iOS malware.
Apple has since provided a statement on the matter, however, and it seems a fix has been in place for some time.
“This issue only impacts users on older versions of iOS who have also downloaded malware from untrusted sources,” Apple told The Loop. “We addressed this specific issue in iOS 8.4 and we have also blocked the identified apps that distribute this malware.”
This means that YiSpecter hasn’t actually been a risk since June 30, when iOS 8.4 rolled out. This was the big Apple Music update, in case you’re struggling to remember as far back as three months ago.
Related: iOS XcodeGhost malware FAQ
Apple also provides the following common sense advice on how to keep free of malware:
“We encourage customers to stay current with the latest version of iOS for the latest security updates. We also encourage them to only download from trusted sources like the App Store and pay attention to any warnings as they download apps.”
The message from Apple is loud and clear: as long as you’re keeping your iPhone up to date and only downloading apps from the App Store, you don’t need to worry.
Take a look at our iOS 9 features video below:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
