Something Fishy About iPhone mods MUST READ

[JiggyMatt]

maybe im just being paranoid, but i think there is something fishy with these things. i just read how iPhone is not secure to hacks ect and jailbreak and iPhoneinterface were mentioned. now im no computer whiz but i just put two and two together and it doesn't seem right. no offense to the creators cause its clear they worked VERY hard on these things. but check this out for yourself and see what im saying. i don't know how secure these things make our phones... read on...

when these script are enabled against your iPhone, the person on the other end can download your contacts, see the website you visited including everything you typed in, read all you text messages, and EVEN RECORD THE AUDIO FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE USING THE PHONE REMOTELY!

just research this and tell me what you guys think


a pdf paper published by 3 guys who researched the iPhone from within exposing security threats where peoples info can be stolen ect
http://www.securityevaluators.com/iPhone/exploitingiPhone.pdf

youtube video on how the iPhone can be exploited using software
they can control your phone entirely and even record the audio in the room your in without YOU EVEN KNOWING!

all sorts of good info
http://www.securityevaluators.com/iPhone/

i am attempting to get a badge to attend a security conference in vgas where i live on aug 2nd where the person who found all this out will be giving a demonstration...

 

[Kev1000000]

What does this have to do with modding though? You are not more likely to get "hacked" if you mod...

 

[jptolife]

you got it wrong. That's not the hackers that did the mod, those are researchers that found an exploit on the phone that allow them to do that. Its on another thread here.

 

[JiggyMatt]

So yours saying that it is not possible to open ourselves to security threats by modding the phone? Cause thats how i understood the articles.

 

[SiLeNtKiLLa]

So yours saying that it is not possible to open ourselves to security threats by modding the phone? Cause thats how i understood the articles.

Your an security threat just by having bluetooth on.....called bluejacking, and you don't have to exploit an mods or software, just be discoverable while bluetooth is on.

So regardless of what we do with our devices, theres always security flaws somewhere.

 

[Joon]

I personally agree with the OP. When you are modding your phone you are basically opening up your phone like a book with a program that was not made by Apple to change items, songs, etc. on your phone. I noticed after I modded my phone and had it set that way for one day that my phone crashed more and seemed to lag a bit more as well. I restored my phone to default settings and will leave it like that. I am recommending all my friends to do the same till more is found about all of this. This, is just my opinion however, everyone is entitled to their own....

 

[spacerog]

This thread is alittle bit of paranoia from people that just don't understand the technology.

Most of the mods here on EIP deal with simply swapping out graphic files, .png's. Simply changing one logo for another. Thats it.

The 'hack' that was reported so widely in the media this morning is really nothing new. Basically if you visist and evil website or use a comprsed wireless network your phone is at risk. Well guess what so is your laptop. Nothing new here really.

the thing to remember is that both are completely different things. But if it scares you then don't do the mods. simple.

- SR

 

[Joon]

I don't think it is being paranoid. Regardless of what is being swapped the phone is being opened in way it was not intended to. Like I said this just my opinion.

 

[AllanGT]

My phone has been completly modded for a week or so now, and it works exactly the same as it did when it was stock. Never crashed, doesn't lag, interface is still flawless, it just looks cooler. Like spacerog said, these mods have more to do with .png graphic files than anything else, just swaping out images and sounds. Don't mod your phone if you're scared, and while you're at it, make sure you never change anything on your desktop pc or laptop, hackers are waiting for you

 

[Joon]

My phone has been completly modded for a week or so now, and it works exactly the same as it did when it was stock. Never crashed, doesn't lag, interface is still flawless, it just looks cooler. Like spacerog said, these mods have more to do with .png graphic files than anything else, just swaping out images and sounds. Don't mod your phone if you're scared, and while you're at it, make sure you never change anything on your desktop pc or laptop, hackers are waiting for you

There is a big difference when changing your wallpaper, icons, and screen savor on your computer. Your computer is set up that way. All I am saying is when you hack your phone you are doing something to it that it was intended to do. That is all I am saying. Not trying to upset anyone or get sarcastic remarks. I was merely stating my opinion and showed respect through everything I said.

 

[spacerog]

There is a big difference when changing your wallpaper, icons, and screen savor on your computer. Your computer is set up that way. All I am saying is when you hack your phone you are doing something to it that it was intended to do. That is all I am saying. Not trying to upset anyone or get sarcastic remarks. I was merely stating my opinion and showed respect through everything I said.

OK, I'm going to try to be nice here. You are entitled to your opinion. But let me try to explain something.

Mods are different from hacks. Most of the mods here on EIP are simply replaceing one graphic file for another. The picture of a green battery for a blue or pink one. The iPhone software was definitely designed to show the picture of a battery. It was intended to do that. It really is not going to make a whole lot of differance if you replace the .png of a green battery with one for a pink battery. The iPhone will still do what it was designed to do and display the picture of the battery. It will just be a different color is all. And yes, this is almost exactly like changeing your desktop or screensaver. Just because there is no simplified control panel interface on the iPhone for making these changes doesn't mean that it wasn't designed to show a picture of a battery.

Now there is one possibility where replacing one of these .png's might cause a problem. That is if the iPhone did any sort of verification on .png to see if it was orginal. This has already been shown not to be the case. The other possibility is if you choose a very very large .png which could potentially cause an out of memory error of some sort.

Even then your really not damageing the phone in any way. If something gets screwy just put the orginal file back in. No harm no foul. Its not like people are rewriting the software or anything (at least not for these mods).

People are going to play with their stuff, whether it be cars, Tivo's or iPhones. yes, there is some minimal risk depending on what your doing but they are still going to do it.

If you find the risk to be unaccetaple then don;t do it but for those that do see the risk as minimal let them have their fun.

- SR

 

[OJsakila]

maybe im just being paranoid, but i think there is something fishy with these things. i just read how iPhone is not secure to hacks ect and jailbreak and iPhoneinterface were mentioned. now im no computer whiz but i just put two and two together and it doesn't seem right. no offense to the creators cause its clear they worked VERY hard on these things. but check this out for yourself and see what im saying. i don't know how secure these things make our phones... read on...

when these script are enabled against your iPhone, the person on the other end can download your contacts, see the website you visited including everything you typed in, read all you text messages, and EVEN RECORD THE AUDIO FROM WHEREVER YOU ARE USING THE PHONE REMOTELY!


yes and exactly what makes you think anyone even cares to listen to your silly phone calls, anyway? Or text your high school girlfriend, for that matter? You know, that's what they said about t.v.s and electricity, too. If the discovery and advancement of technology was up to guys like you, we'd all be living in caves by candle light. No thanks, but if you care to listen to me get yelled at for doing "whatever" by my wife, then go ahead. I'll take the technology anyday!

 

[kellenbence]

Security

This seems to be a no brainer, if you feel that way don't Mod it.
Personlly I don't feel that way. With WIFI, & Bluetooth you are open to get hacked, etc....yes, but disable these features and it will be much harder. Mods, nah.......your not opening yourself up for anything, these MOD are for opening up areas on the local device

 

[up10ad]

The potential for abuse is there, no question. But, unless the creators of iBrickr and the other mod programs (or even add-on applications) have malicious intent and have coded non-documented spy features into their programs, you have nothing to fear.

Heck, the same caution goes for any program you install on your desktop! There could be code in any downloaded program that does just about anything! It's called spyware! If you don't trust the source of any program you shouldn't install it, on your phone or your PC.

I guess my point is that the iPhone is no more vulnerable than your PC. In fact, it is probably much less vulnerable because it doesn't run Windows, the most attacked OS on the planet.

 

[ciaran00]

I think you are a genius.

 

[venturo]

*sigh*

It's hard not to give off a negative vibe when telling someone something over and over, and this is not intended to flame or turn this into a bash session so, with that said.

Reading through this thread, everyone who reassured that moding/hacking is safe made good and valid points. Modding your iPhone doesn't create anymore risk than using a handsfree device. The path is their, its in your wifi and bluetooth settings. These methods of hacking (bluejacking in particular) have been around a good while, and are nothing knew that resulted form modding an iPhone. People that don't really understand the technology can be quickly led to believe this isn't safe.

The only risk you are taking is "bricking" your phone, in which case you mess up the software and you cant end up using it. Im sure you can figure out how to fix it, or Apple store can at least. But from what i can see those cases are like 1 in 1000.

I don't know who said it in this thread, and didn't feel like looking back, but it was WELL said. Without giving too much away, I'm just gonna say that he was right by saying no one cares about the texts you send to your gf, or that you visited beejive and wiki a bajillion times in one day, oooor to get you aunt sues number out of your contact list. There is so much info floatin around that even if there was a means to do it, unless you were specifically targeted, then highly improbable that it would happen. But there arent means, well none created by hacking your own phone anyway.
So, please stop discouraging people from doing these simple mods to their phones, it is fun AND safe! Mostly fun. If you are worried about security, turn off your bluetooth and wifi! That is about the only security risk there is (or go live on a desert island away from technology, i hear that is pretty risk free... techwise).

 

[up10ad]

I think you are a genius.

Something tells me you are being sarcastic .

 

[Lincoln]

I personally agree with the OP. When you are modding your phone you are basically opening up your phone like a book with a program that was not made by Apple to change items, songs, etc. on your phone. I noticed after I modded my phone and had it set that way for one day that my phone crashed more and seemed to lag a bit more as well. I restored my phone to default settings and will leave it like that. I am recommending all my friends to do the same till more is found about all of this. This, is just my opinion however, everyone is entitled to their own....

I agree. My modding experience wasn't the greatest...