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BlackBerry Warns Of Security Breach;Releases Patch
Techtree News Staff, Jun 05, 2009 1808 hrs ISTWarns of hackers taking advantage of the vulnerability
RIM (Research In Motion), the company that makes BlackBerry's has issued a patch for the device that claims to cover a possible security breach, if exploited by hackers.
Details of the patch are not available and prima facie, it seems to be an important one with BlackBerry insisting that enterprises disallow the opening of attachments to protect users from being hacked. While RIM has confirmed that no one has bee able to use the security "hole" to break into any accounts, it is advisable that the patch be applied as soon as possible. According to Reuters, prominent security experts agree that the problem is a serious one and that the patch needs to be applied to ensure a secure BlackBerry experience.
As for the current security issue, it is widely believed that it could allow hackers to take control of servers running BlackBerry systems by sending emails with "infected" attachments in PDF format. If the victim opens these infected attachments, the malicious code would then install a copy of it on to the servers and thereby help hackers send covert e-mails or even hack into the corporate e-mail database and steal confidential information.
RIM has posted an advisory that can be read here. If you are using a BlackBerry, you should install the patch without much delay. And yes, beware of those PDF files, for now!
Details of the patch are not available and prima facie, it seems to be an important one with BlackBerry insisting that enterprises disallow the opening of attachments to protect users from being hacked. While RIM has confirmed that no one has bee able to use the security "hole" to break into any accounts, it is advisable that the patch be applied as soon as possible. According to Reuters, prominent security experts agree that the problem is a serious one and that the patch needs to be applied to ensure a secure BlackBerry experience.
As for the current security issue, it is widely believed that it could allow hackers to take control of servers running BlackBerry systems by sending emails with "infected" attachments in PDF format. If the victim opens these infected attachments, the malicious code would then install a copy of it on to the servers and thereby help hackers send covert e-mails or even hack into the corporate e-mail database and steal confidential information.
RIM has posted an advisory that can be read here. If you are using a BlackBerry, you should install the patch without much delay. And yes, beware of those PDF files, for now!
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