Last week we told about the Dutch hacker who had hacked a bunch of jailbroken iPhones. Now, it seems a hacker in Australia has created a virus that affects jailbroken iPhones.
The virus is called ‘iKee’ and it replaces your default background with a picture of 80s pop star Rick Astley, along with the message ‘ikee is never going to give you up’.
The worm uses SSH access on jailbroken iPhones, where users haven’t changed the default password. Once the virus is on the iPhone, it will then scan the 3G IP range the device is on and attempt to pass it on to other jailbroken devices.
How the iKee Virus Works
The iKee virus exploits a common vulnerability found in jailbroken iPhones. When users jailbreak their devices, they often enable SSH (Secure Shell) access to gain more control over their iPhone’s file system. However, many users neglect to change the default SSH password, which is typically set to ‘alpine’. This oversight creates a significant security risk, as it allows unauthorized users to gain access to the device.
Once the iKee virus gains access to a jailbroken iPhone, it changes the device’s wallpaper to an image of Rick Astley, a famous pop star from the 1980s, and displays the message ‘ikee is never going to give you up’. This is a reference to the popular internet meme known as “Rickrolling,” where unsuspecting users are tricked into watching Astley’s music video for “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
Potential Spread and Impact
Currently, it looks like the only users who have been affected are in Australia, but the virus has the potential to spread quite easily to other parts of the world. The iKee virus scans the 3G IP range that the infected device is on, searching for other vulnerable jailbroken iPhones. If it finds another device with the default SSH password, it will attempt to infect that device as well.
The spread of the iKee virus highlights the importance of securing jailbroken devices. While jailbreaking an iPhone can provide additional functionality and customization options, it also exposes the device to potential security threats. Users who choose to jailbreak their iPhones should take extra precautions to protect their devices from malware and unauthorized access.
If you are using a jailbroken iPhone, make sure you change the default username and password settings, or you could end up with a Rickrolled iPhone. Changing the default SSH password is a simple yet effective way to protect your device from the iKee virus and other potential threats.
In addition to changing the default password, users should also consider disabling SSH access when it is not needed. This can further reduce the risk of unauthorized access to the device. Regularly updating the device’s software and using reputable security tools can also help protect against malware and other security threats.
The Tech Herald
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