Hackers find ingenious ways to hack various operating systems and iOS remains one of their most challenging tasks. In the latest ingenious iOS hack, hackers can trick users to respond to Siri commands. Hackers use radio waves to trick ios and android into responding to voice commands. Hack could allow unwanted access to Siri commands by simply sending radio waves to a pair of unguarded iPhone earbuds, revealed Techcrunch.com.
Researchers at French security organization ANSSI have discovered a way to send radio waves to microphones attached to iOS or Android devices. The radio waves silently activate the home button waking up Siri and can simulate voice commands. Once the phone is awake, it can allow hacker to send personal messages, access apps or even open the wallet.
"Numerous papers dealing with the analysis of electromagnetic attacks against critical electronic devices have been made publicly available. n this paper, we exploit the principle of front-door coupling on smartphones headphone cables with specific electromagnetic waveforms," said a paper published in Electromagnetic Compatibility.
"We present a smart use of intentional electromagnetic interference, resulting in finer impacts on an information system than a classical denial of service effect. As an outcome, we introduce a new silent remote voice command injection technique on modern smartphones."
The Apple ecosystem rarely lets dodgy apps enter its stringent security atmosphere. However, nearly two dozen malicious pieces of software managed to get hosted on the App Store, and subsequently downloaded by Chinese user.
Only the Chinese users remained vulnerable to these apps the apps could be downloaded only from the Chinese app store and rest of the world remained relatively immune. Further, the malware was not deadly in itself but the major concern remained that it got past Apple's first security screening system, said Wired.