iPhone 5, 4S, 4 & iPad 1-Retina Hackable

Apple's iPhone and iPad products are usually deemed un-hackable because of defense mechanisms in the closed platform. However, hackers could get through another way, by a rogue charger. The device will be shown at the Black Hat Conference in late July in Las Vegas.

Researchers at Georgia Tech have found a way to get into Apple devices with sneaky,  spy charger.

The researchers "investigated the extent to which security threats were considered when performing everyday activities such as charging a device...The results were alarming: despite the plethora of defense mechanisms in iOS, we successfully injected arbitrary software into current-generation Apple devices running the latest operating system (OS) software." noted the team

An iPhone, iPod or iPad can be compromised within one minute of being plugged into a malicious charger using the USB.

All users are affected, because the charger uses neither a jailbroken device nor user interaction."

Mactans is a malicious charger that will demonstrated at the conference.. Latrodectus mactans is the scientific name for the deadly black widow spider. The hacking charger was built cheaply and in short time.

The researchers will also recommend ways to stop these kinds of hacks.

See introduction presentation.