Apple Acknowledges iOS 6.1 Passcode Bug, Fix Coming in Future Software Update

[MacRumors]

Following today's significant publicity surrounding a bug in iOS 6.1 that allows users to bypass the iPhone's passcode lock to access the device's phone functions and contacts, Apple has issued a brief statement to AllThingsD acknowledging the issue and promising a fix for it.

Reached for comment, Apple said it is hard at work on a fix. "Apple takes user security very seriously" spokeswoman Trudy Muller told AllThingsD. "We are aware of this issue, and will deliver a fix in a future software update."

The company did not provide a timeframe for the fix.

Apple issued a first developer beta of iOS 6.1.1 last week, but then delivered a public iOS 6.1.1 release only for the iPhone 4S earlier this week. We suspect that Apple rushed out the iPhone 4S bug fix update and that the original iOS 6.1.1 in developer testing will become iOS 6.1.2 as it proceeds through the development and testing process.

It seems reasonable to assume that Apple will have enough time to fold a fix for the passcode issue into this next release, but it is unknown when that update will be made available to the public.

Article Link: Apple Acknowledges iOS 6.1 Passcode Bug, Fix Coming in Future Software Update

[iMikeT]

I say the fix comes within the next week.

[Tankmaze]

why so many bugs with the 6.1, not good apple.

[nepalisherpa]

6.1 happened after so many months of beta and it is already plagued with so many bugs: 4S' bug, exchange bug, and this loophole. Don't know if they rushed or goofed up!

[SpyderBite]

Originally Posted by Tankmaze

why so many bugs with the 6.1, not good apple.

Which bugs are you referring to? I haven't had any problems with 6.1.

This is a security flaw. A minor one at that since thieves are rarely stealing smartphones for the contact lists.

[Andy-V]

Originally Posted by SpyderBite

Which bugs are you referring to? I haven't had any problems with 6.1.

This is a security flaw. A minor one at that since thieves are rarely stealing smartphones for the contact lists.

There's been this and MS Exchange bug. They're both quite high-profile, widely reported. So they've gained quite a bit of attention.

Edit: AND as mentioned below, the 3G bug. Honestly, it has been a pretty buggy release.

[Tankmaze]

Originally Posted by SpyderBite

Which bugs are you referring to? I haven't had any problems with 6.1.

This is a security flaw. A minor one at that since thieves are rarely stealing smartphones for the contact lists.

just to list : the 3g issue (which has been fixed), exchange and this passcode.

[Fishticks]

Originally Posted by SpyderBite

Which bugs are you referring to? I haven't had any problems with 6.1.

Heard about Google search engine ?

----------

Originally Posted by KdParker

This is minor security error at best.

What bugs are you talking about with 6.1?

Heard about Google search engine ?

[tmoerel]

Originally Posted by Fishticks

Heard about Google search engine ?

----------



Heard about Google search engine ?

Imagine this: Your iphone has no problems. You are happy.....and now tell me to go google for bugs? Why? I am happy......get a life!

[TMar]

Originally Posted by SpyderBite

Which bugs are you referring to? I haven't had any problems with 6.1.

This is a security flaw. A minor one at that since thieves are rarely stealing smartphones for the contact lists.

"I'm not having any issues so nobody is having issues".

3g issues, wifi issues, exchange issues, lockscreen bypass issue and several others that elude me at the moment.

[ConCat]

Originally Posted by SpyderBite

Which bugs are you referring to? I haven't had any problems with 6.1.

This is a security flaw. A minor one at that since thieves are rarely stealing smartphones for the contact lists.

People can place calls with this bug too, and listen to voicemail. There are serious privacy concerns here and I wish people would stop downplaying it.

[Marius123]

After an extremely unusual series of steps made to reproduce this bug, all I get is a black screen on my iPhone 5. Of course, getting a blank screen is clearly a bug but not really a security issue.

[nefan65]

Get on with it!!!!!

[iPusch]

I count the days

[srxtr]

Originally Posted by Tankmaze

why so many bugs with the 6.1, not good apple.

They're trying to sabotage jailbreak in an indirect way

[BC2009]

The way you have to jump through so many hoops to activate this security hole makes it look more like an "easter egg" or "backdoor" than a bug.

How on earth did anybody figure this out? The steps involved are astounding and they are hardly anything that you would stumble upon.

This totally seems like a backdoor coded into the phone by some disgruntled developer at Apple.

Oddly, the only thing this thing will let you access is the phone app -- not the rest of the phone. While that is bad, it is not nearly as bad as letting somebody launch eBay or Amazon with your saved password (assuming you save your password in those apps) and then start buying things.

[lkrupp]

Originally Posted by Tankmaze

why so many bugs with the 6.1, not good apple.

No more and no less than previous iOS versions. Only the iHaters think like you do.

[Compile 'em all]

To be honest I don't care about how buggy iOS 6.1 is, I look forward to iOS 7 preview in June. Will be the first WWDC without Scott Forstall and may be we see a thing here or there from Ive.

[Wordman]

Originally Posted by lkrupp

No more and no less than previous iOS versions. Only the iHaters think like you do.

Nope, I think like he does. And I have a lot of Apple products, no Android ones and no Microsoft ones. Lot of mistakes made recently, and brand loyalty is for suckers. Good products get the money.

[Tiger8]

Originally Posted by Wordman

Nope, I think like he does. And I have a lot of Apple products, no Android ones and no Microsoft ones. Lot of mistakes made recently, and brand loyalty is for suckers. Good products get the money.

Cosign.

I am the biggest fan of apple but you have to admit the quality of their software qa has gone down. They no longer deserve the 'it just works' tag line.

And guess who's software quality is getting better?

[KdParker]

Originally Posted by Tankmaze

why so many bugs with the 6.1, not good apple.

This is minor security error at best.

What bugs are you talking about with 6.1?

[Compile 'em all]

Originally Posted by KdParker

This is minor security error at best.

What bugs are you talking about with 6.1?

Probably meant the 3G bug (fixed in 6.1.1) and the MS Exchange bug (not fixed yet).

[C DM]

Originally Posted by Tankmaze

why so many bugs with the 6.1, not good apple.

Except that this particular issue was there even prior to 6.1.

[chumawumba]

Just release iOS 7 already!

[4nz33]

You don't have to do all those key combos just to make a call! Just hold the home button and wait for voice control and say "call mobile number" and it will ring whatever number you tell it to :-)