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Apple (AAPL) Devices Show 'Critical Weakness' - German IT Agency

July 7, 2011 7:05 AM EDT
Germany has issued a warning about Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch software, saying the devices have "critical weakness."

The U.K. Guardian reports Germany's IT security agency, Bundesamt für Sicherheit in der Informationstechnik, says clicking on an affected .PDF file "is sufficient to infect the mobile device with malware without the user's knowledge" on several version's of Apple's iOS.

Devices that may see a problem include the iPhone 3 GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2 and the iPod Touch with software versions including iOS 4.3.3. The agency also said the new iOS 5 cannot be ruled out for vulnerability.

Intruders could gain access to administrator rights and eventually the entire system.

With more than 200 million of these units sold, and sales showing no signs of slowing, investors may want to heed the warning moving forward. The agency urges against opening .PDF files of unknown origin.

The Guardian notes: "The bureau reported a similar security hole last year, for which Apple soon presented a software upgrade fixing it."

Click here for the official release (in German).

Apple shares are up 0.4 percent pre-market.


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