subject: iPad User Information Exploited through AT&T (NYSE: ATT) (NASDAQ:AAPL) [print this page] iPad User Information Exploited through AT&T (NYSE: ATT) (NASDAQ:AAPL)
In case you had not heard, A glitch in AT&T's website has been exploited by a hacking group known as Goatse Security. The email addresses of 114,000+ iPad users have now been swiped. The hackers obtained this information by guessing ICC-ID numbers (Integrated Circuit Card Identifiers) and entering them into the website. In return, AT&T sent them corresponding user emails. No further information was stolen in the security glitch and the FBI is now investigating the infraction.
Through a minor security flaw, many new questions have arisen to the public's mind. For one, the security of Apple's products has always been impeccable. Mac user's claim to fame continues to be that their operating systems are unable to be infected by viruses, or spyware. While OSX has been hacked in less than thirty minutes by a Swedish Mac enthusiast (according to zdnet) overall the company has been generally untouched by security threats. But, where there is a will, there is a way, and continuous bragging of high security levels will no doubt insight more white/black hat hackers to write exploitive programs and become involved in an effort to crack OS-X based systems everywhere.
More and more information is becoming widely available online and the doers are always ahead of the regulators, for everything, in both financial services (Goldman Sachs) and in the internet security world. Cyber security is becoming a growing concern in the U.S., one area we are very much behind in.
A second question to ponder on the heels of this FBI investigation is AT&T's current relationship with Apple. AAPL has very low tolerance for mistakes, and problems with the 3G network have hindered the company's products for quite some time now. Rumors have been trending over the break in exclusive agreement between the two companies in the past few months. I wrote a story about this a while ago which you can find here. This news only increases the public's doubts further regarding Apple's move away from AT&T's seemingly obsolete service.
As competition in the mobile space continues to grow at astronomical levels, Apple will need to make some tough decisions soon. With Google's Android operating system close behind and innovating daily, the iPhone/iPad combination will need to operate at peak performance levels to stay competitive.
To view this article at World Market Media click on the link below: http://www.worldmarketmedia.com/779/section.aspx/1809/post/ipad-user-information-exploited-through-att-nyse-att-nasdaqaapl
