The source code for a very important part of the iPhones operating system has been leaked online.
The code ?iBoot? which is used to boot the iPhones operating system when the device has been switched on has been leaked online on programming website GitHub. The authenticity of the leak seems legitimate as shortly after being posted the leak was hit with a copyright notice. The post was not copyrighted quickly enough however, as the coding has since been spotted on numerous other websites.
Experts are calling the leak ?the biggest leak in history? and ?a huge deal? as it will allow hackers to design new attacks against the iPhone operating system. Hackers will be able to find vulnerabilities in the coding and create exploits, potentially allowing them to steal data.
The iBoot firmware is the first bit of code that runs when an iPhone is switched on. Think of the iBoot code as the front door key to iOS, it is initially the difference between your phone screen going from black to the Apple logo appearing on your screen once you have powered it on.
Apple are yet to comment on the release of the iBoot firmware, however Andy Kays from the British Cyber Security firm Redscan has said Apple have taken important steps to improve the protection of its products and that users of latest Apple devices don?t need to be too concerned by the leak.
iOS experts have confirmed that the leaked code was from the outdated iOS9 which ended in September 2015, however it does give hackers an insight to the inner workings of Apples operating system.
The best way to stay protected is to ensure your devices are kept up to date with all the latest software updates released by Apple. To check whether your device is up to date go Settings ? General ? Software Update.