14 DAY TRIAL // Self-touted security expert Intego has acknowledged and analyzed some of the malware recently targeting jailbroken iPhones, issuing reports that discuss the malware in great detail. Although rather late, Intego claims it has found a way to eradicate the worms from infected devices, without erasing any other content.
“For the third time this month, malware targeting the iPhone has surfaced,” Intego stresses on its website. “The first such malware changed wallpaper on iPhones, and the second harvested personal data from iPhones,” the firm informs, offering up relevant links to older security bulletins. “This new malware, that Intego calls iBotnet.A, is by far the most sophisticated iPhone malware yet,” the company outlines. “It is not only a worm, capable of spreading across a network, but also hijacks iPhones or iPod touches for use in a botnet,” the company reveals.
The security expert says that standard, non-jailbroken iPhones or iPod touches are not at risk. However, a proof-of-concept has revealed that it is possible to infect clean iPhones as well. Intego has made no reference to this, as of yet.
In any case, Intego assures that its VirusBarrier X5 anti-virus software for Mac “detects and eradicates this malware, which it identifies it as iPhone/iBotnet.A, on iPhones that it can scan from Macs with VirusBarrier X5 installed, with its virus definitions dated November 22, 2009 or later.” Intego points out that totally wiping and restoring the iPhone using iTunes is the only other way to remove this malware (isn’t that convenient for Intego...).
Admittedly, the company does offer good advice while trying to market its security solutions for Mac OS X. Intego clearly states that, “iPhone users should stick with their stock configurations and not jailbreak their devices.” The firm ends its security bulletin by crediting Scott McIntyre, chief security officer of the Dutch ISP XS4ALL, for his help in isolating and analyzing the worm identified as iPhone/iBotnet.A.