How To Prevent Anyone From Hacking Into Your iPad Using A Smart Cover
October 21, 2011
Late yesterday, 9 To 5 Mac broke a pretty serious story that will affect anyone using a Smart Cover with an iPad 2. Apparently, this popular combination presents a significant security flaw.
As the attached video shows, a Smart Cover essentially unlocks an iPad 2 without requiring a user to type in a password. As such, this breach could expose strangers to your personal information.
They state:
The person who unlocks your iPad 2 will not have complete access to your iPad, but will be able to gain entrance to whatever you locked your iPad 2 on. If your iPad 2 went to sleep in Mail, Safari, Messages, Contacts, or Maps, you can imagine the sorts of personal information that can be viewed on your iPad. If you left your iPad 2 on its Home screen, the person can view which applications you have on your device, control media from the multitasking bar, but not much else.Take a look: To re-create this situation, follow these instructions:
1) Lock a password protected iPad 2 2) Hold down power button until iPad 2 reaches turn off slider 3) Close Smart Cover 4) Open Smart Cover 5) Click cancel on the bottom of the screenThankfully, there is a temporary solution to this problem. Within the Settings app, go General > iPad Cover Lock / Unlock and change the setting to the OFF position. Like 9 To 5 Mac, we hope Apple fixes this problem permanently very soon. In the meantime, we suggest using the temporary solution or find another iPad 2 case.