Users deal with the good and the bad from Apple

Tech giant Apple has released a new software update that can either be good news or bad news for iPhone and iPad users around the world.

The new software upgrade for the company’s two most popular devices will plug a security hole that can be exploited by viewing malicious PDF documents.

The iOS (operating system) software update number 4.3.4 was released on July 15. It will cover Apple’s entire range of iPhones, iPads and iPod touch handheld devices.

Consumers have cause for celebration now that an avenue for cybercriminals to steal credit card numbers, e-mail addresses and other personal data, has been shut down.

But the bad news for users is, the new software plugs the very same system flaw that allows the “jail-breaking” of iPhones and iPads.

Jail-breaking is the process of installing a small program that removes restrictions in the default software.

A jailbroken device can run applications and extensions (themes and tweaks) not approved by Apple.

The jailbreak program, which is available on jailbreakme.com, allows users to install paid applications on their devices for free.

Apple, based in Silicon Valley in California, has prided itself selling devices that are much less prone to malicious software (malware) attacks than products running on Windows operating systems built by rival Microsoft.

But when the iPad tablet device was first launched in early 2010, IT security firm BitDefender warned of a malware attack that came in the form of a seemingly legitimate new version of Apple media player application, iTunes.

“This particular threat comes in the form of an unsolicited e-mail, promising to keep iPad software updated,” the company said in a previous statement.

“This piece of malicious code inadvertently downloaded injects itself in to the explorer.exe process and opens up a backdoor that allows unauthorized access to, and control over, the affected system.”

It also attempts to read the keys and serial numbers of applications installed on the affected computer, while also logging the passwords to the victim.

The popularity of tablet computers like the iPad and those running Google’s Android operating system has made them a favorite target of virus developers, Russian security firm Kaspersky Labs said.

Kaspersky Labs security expert Timothy Armstrong said malware developers have already penetrated Google’s Android Market, which is where users download applications.

“Every day, we see more reports about malware in the Android Market,” he said.

“This discovery is important because, up until now, most of the Android malware has been found outside of the Android Market, which requires a number of special steps to be taken in order to infect the phones,” Armstrong said.