14 DAY TRIAL // iPad 2 owners are using a vulnerable device even with the latest iOS software update from Apple which patches dozens of security flaws, according to a new test.
The iPad 2, equipped with magnets that respond to the Smart Cover accessory to turn the screen on and off, can be tricked into displaying the last-run application, such as Safari or Mail, even with a passcode lock set, a test has shown.
All one has to do is hold down the power button down until the the slider appears across the top, close the iPad′s Smart Cover (or simply swing any magnet over the sensors around the display bezel), remove the cover / magnet, and click “Cancel” at the bottom of the lock screen.
Leave your iPad unattended and a person can gain access to your emails, iMessages and other personal stuff. Apple will be required to patch this flaw with a software update.
And I’d say you can expect iOS 5.1 to drop relatively soon.
In addition to this problem, there also seem to be battery-drain issues for numerous users. Apple has historically released incremental updates to major iOS releases to fix similar issues.
Others (albeit not that many) seem to be having connectivity issues after applying the iOS 5 software update. Such issues, however, can also stem from incompatibilities with WiFi routers and other hardware / software used to feed radio waves to the iPhone / iPad.
But, as history has shown, no software is perfect. And although Apple tends make theirs sound and look flawless, the reality is different.
There’s also some concern that Siri, the personal assistant built inside iOS 5, may also pose security issues.
And a person recently claimed to have caught his wife cheating on him using the Find My Friends feature in iOS 5. While he did admit to installing the feature on her phone without her consent, Apple may be required to implement an additional layer of security / user acceptance.