Customised Worm Aims Dutch Jail-Broken iPhone Users

Leading antivirus firm F-secure has confirmed the existence of a new iPhone worm which is tailored to target users of Dutch online bank, ING Direct and is said to be more ‘malicious’ than the last one owing to its capacity to act like a botnet.

The worm, which is directing the users to a look-alike page of the bank’s website with a login screen, is targeting users in Netherlands who are using their iPhones for internet banking with ING Direct.

The worm is specifically targeting jail-broken iPhones, a technique which enables the user to download applications which are not authorized by Apple.

The users which have SSH file-transfer program are also said to be under threat. The worm enables the phone to be accessed or controlled remotely without the permission of its owner.

F-Secure research director Mikko Hypponen told the BBC that although the worm is isolated and is specific to Netherlands, there is a possibility that the worm could spread. He also added that the worm could jump from phone to phone among owners using the same Wi-Fi hotspot.

ING Direct has posted a warning on its website and is in the process of briefing its call-centre personnel. It is to be noted that the first iPhone virus was relatively harmless than the new one. Users with infected phones found their wallpaper replaced with a picture of 1980s popstar Rick Astley.