AfterDawn: News

Apple boots researcher from developer program for publicizing iOS vulnerability

Security research Charlie Miller recently found a problem in iOS which could allow an app to give remote access to a device.

After receiving no response from Apple when he reported the problem more than two weeks ago, Miller submitted an app to the iTunes App Store which takes advantage of the vulnerabililty. He then went public with the information, after which Apple rewarded him for his trouble by kicking him out of the iOS Developer Program.



In an article published yesterday, Miller was quoted, saying: (via Forbes):

Now you could have a program in the App Store like Angry Birds that can run new code on your phone that Apple never had a chance to check. With this bug, you can't be assured of anything you download from the App Store behaving nicely.

It's hard to understand why Apple, after dropping the ball themselves by failing to act on Miller's warning, would draw more attention to their own failure like this. Then again, it's hard to understand why Apple does a lot of things.

Before his app was pulled and his developer privileges revoked, Miller made a video demonstrating the problem.

Written by: Rich Fiscus @ 8 Nov 2011 2:32

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• 10 comments

• dali

  So, let me understand this right. This developer, who PAYS for developing for iWhatever (the iOS SDK costs good money, and so does the platform they require him to develop with, which is, mandatorily, a Crapintosh with its consequent NOT FREE OSX updates, not mentioning the 30% revenue for every app sold), discovered a SERIOUS security hole, Crapple ignored him and, when he went public on the issue, they rewarded him with a permanent ban?
  
  Well done, very nice. Now, let's see how fanboys justify this behaviour. Because, of course, they will.
  

  "You know, it seems that quotes on the internet are becoming less and less reliable." -Abraham Lincoln.

  8.11.2011 08:06 #1

• plutonash

  He violated the terms and agreements he had with apple. That's why they booted him. And updates for windows ain't free either, why would osx be free as well? The updates are subsidized greatly since your paying a premium.
  

  "Cable thief is a victimless crime."

  8.11.2011 10:05 #2

• SomeBozo

  Originally posted by plutonash: He violated the terms and agreements he had with apple. That's why they booted him. And updates for windows ain't free either, why would osx be free as well? The updates are subsidized greatly since your paying a premium. I can't remember in 20 years ever needing to pay for a software update from M$. That said given the quality of some of the M$ software they need free updates :)
  

  8.11.2011 10:15 #3

• plutonash

  Originally posted by SomeBozo: Originally posted by plutonash: He violated the terms and agreements he had with apple. That's why they booted him. And updates for windows ain't free either, why would osx be free as well? The updates are subsidized greatly since your paying a premium. I can't remember in 20 years ever needing to pay for a software update from M$. That said given the quality of some of the M$ software they need free updates :) Oh, thought we were talking about new software like vista to win 7. Yeah idk what dali is talking about then...you get free software updates on osx and very frequently too. But who knows, I have windows 7 and while windows 8 looks fun to play around, idk if I want to pay 200+ bucks for it...I'll wait to see reviews.
  

  "Cable thief is a victimless crime."

  8.11.2011 12:26 #4

• dali

  Originally posted by plutonash: He violated the terms and agreements he had with apple.
  Of course he did, pissed as he was when he found himself ignored after pointing out a bug of theirs. He was trying to HELP, and any other company would have actually acknowledged or even rewarded him for finding the bug, but, hey, you know, I don't refer to them as "Crapple" for no reason.
  
  Originally posted by plutonash: And updates for windows ain't free either, why would osx be free as well? The updates are subsidized greatly since your paying a premium.
  I agree with SomeBozo: Windows may need more fixes, because it is also bigger (more widely supported, so many hardware brands, that much more software available), and new versions every 3 or 4 years are not free, but service packs (as OSX 10.6 is, a SP, and not a whole new release), are, and always have been, completely free.
  
  And, of course, if you do want the best OS, you don't need to pay anything either, but you can't develop for iOS under Linux, because the SDK requires OSX, unlike Android's, which is also free.
  
  

  "You know, it seems that quotes on the internet are becoming less and less reliable." -Abraham Lincoln.

  8.11.2011 12:27 #5

• mystic

  Apple doesn't want anyone to know of their issues and because he spoke out to the public apple will boot him and anything he writes
  

  8.11.2011 14:03 #6

• DXR88

  it could also be an intentional security hole, so apple wants to keep it all hush hush.

  8.11.2011 14:43 #7

• 1nsan3

  apple is more and more like Microsoft. basically, not caring about the end user ( us ) and more about there pocket books.
  
  and ya wonder why apps and software get pirated.....

  8.11.2011 15:23 #8

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by 1nsan3: apple is more and more like Microsoft. basically, not caring about the end user ( us ) and more about there pocket books.
  
  and ya wonder why apps and software get pirated.....
  
  Ironically, Microsoft is starting to seem like the good guys...at least Microsoft allows others to use patents for a fee; Apple just uses their patents to block sales. Go over to the consoles and you see that Microsoft has a pretty open platform while Sony (their only competition in the hardcore gaming field) are downright evil. Go over to PC and you find that, while still buggy, Microsoft Windows 7 is the best version of Windows ever released while every new version of OSX is worse and worse.
  
  With the way Microsoft is acting, it must be like an ice rink in hell right now.
  

  
  

  8.11.2011 23:20 #9

• dali

  Exactly my point. I am mostly a Linux guy, but I can clearly see that Microsoft people are saints in comparison to Apple. And someone should pay attention to that 99.999% of Apple patents which have just no sense, such as the ambiguous "shape" of a tablet, the position on which buttons and plugs are placed, or even finger gestures. In my country, no matter the wealthy you are, if you try to register a patent involving a gesture then, if you're lucky enough, you'll only get laughed at with no further actions taken. Things are very, very wrong in the US patent office, and they are getting worse every day.
  

  "You know, it seems that quotes on the internet are becoming less and less reliable." -Abraham Lincoln.

  9.11.2011 11:04 #10