Button Sequence Bypasses Lock Screen On iPhone

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A newly discovered security flaw in Apple iPhone’s iOS 4.1 allows complete strangers to get past the lock screen on your iPhone without having to crack your password first. A couple of quick button presses and anyone who wants can get access to the Phone app on the iPhone.

This security flaw means that they will have access to your calling features as well as your address book and voicemail. Simply pressing the “Emergency Call” button, then the pound sign three times, the green call button immediately followed by the lock button will actually unlock the iPhone. Several videos have already demonstrated that this is not a quirk on one iPhone but rather a flaw that goes to the heart of the operating system. Don’t begin hoping that newer iOS’ are immune as there are plenty of reports of the most recent OS, iOS 4.1 being victims of the flaw as well.

This is not the first time a security flaw like this has surfaced. In 2008 a similar security problem allowed users to bypass the lock screen to get to e-mail, contacts and bookmarks. Apple later issued a software patch fixing that problem.