Apple has recently released the iOS 10.3 update, which fixed several security issues, including the vulnerability of the Safari to hackers. But the main issue that was fixed was the iPhone's vulnerability to a DDoS attack that causes the smartphone to dial 911.
According to a report from Forbes, the issue about the DDoS attack was discovered in October 2016 by an 18-year-old iPhone app developer named Meetkumar Desai. Desai was able to discover the bug in the iPhone and planned to report it to Apple.
The bug causes the iPhone to repeatedly dial 911 over and over without stopping, even if people try to hang-up the smartphone. The only way for the smartphone to stop dialing is to power it down. The bug problem started after people clicked the link that Desai shared on Twitter.
The report said that Desai wanted to initially change the code to dial a number instead of his original thought of 911. Unfortunately, the teen developer had ended up publishing the 911 code by accident.
The cyber-attack had caused the 911 emergency call centers to jam, minutes after the link was published. It affected more than a dozen states, which includes Texas, California, and Florida. Desai was arrested on charges of felony computer tampering.
Apple said that the new iOS 10.3 update will now require users to press a button for confirmation before a call can be made. Aside from the DDoS cyber-attack, latest iOS also fixed the ransomware issue that the Safari is experiencing, Gizmodo reported.
The Safari security vulnerability allows hackers to prevent users from browsing the web through "endless streams pop-up" windows. The pop-ups are demanding cash from the users in the form of iTunes gift card codes.
The report said that this is just one of the many security updates that the iOS 10.3 has provided. Check out the video below to learn more about the new features of the iOS 10.3 update.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
