Dutch Hacker Ransoms Jailbroken iPhones For €5, Issues Apology

Edward Kirk · November 3rd, 2009, 06:58 PM

Several jailbroken iPhone users recently had their iPhones held hostage by a Dutch iPhone hacker. They were surprised one day to find a message on their device stating that their precious iPhone had "been hacked because it's really insecure," saying the mystery messenger had access to all of their files.

The message instructed users to go to a website asking for €5 to get instructions to remove the hack and secure their device. It is apparent that the hacker had no malicious intentions other than making a little money, saying in the message:

"If you don't pay, it's fine by me. But remember, the way I got access to your iPhone can be used by thousands of others—they can send text messages from your number (like I did), use it to call or record your calls, and actually whatever they want, even use it for their hacking activities! I can assure you, I have no intention of harming you or whatever, but, some hackers do! It's just my advice to secure your phone."

The hacker had used port scanning to discover jailbroken iPhones running on T-Mobile Netherlands's network that had been jailbroken and were running SSH (commonly used to allow the user to log in to the device via a Terminal and run UNIX commands).

In the following hours, the hacker appears to have changed his ways, posting instructions for undoing the hack at no charge. He has also since apologized for asking for money and returned the money he's made from the stunt.

[via Ars Technica]

foamysking · November 3rd, 2009, 07:20 PM #2

lol id say they deserve it for not understanding security and locking down their iphone but i think it is a step to far to charge people to get there phone back but at least he realized that wasnt so cool

Stephen007 · November 4th, 2009, 01:39 PM #3

Odd. I've tried SSH'ing to my phone over AT&T's network and my phone doesn't respond. I just portscanned it's IP and it also came back with nothing. I had tried this a long time ago when considering whether to change the default root password. I had concluded (whether right or wrong) that AT&T must be filtering out that type of traffic.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,088 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Dutch Hacker Ransoms Jailbroken iPhones For €5, Issues Apology - November 3rd, 2009, 06:58 PM #1
	<script language="JavaScript" src="http://adserver1.backbeatmedia.com/servlet/ajrotator/13894/222/viewJScript?pool=13886&type=3158&pos=20&zone=5000"></script> Several jailbroken iPhone users recently had their iPhones held hostage by a Dutch iPhone hacker. They were surprised one day to find a message on their device stating that their precious iPhone had "been hacked because it's really insecure," saying the mystery messenger had access to all of their files. The message instructed users to go to a website asking for €5 to get instructions to remove the hack and secure their device. It is apparent that the hacker had no malicious intentions other than making a little money, saying in the message: "If you don't pay, it's fine by me. But remember, the way I got access to your iPhone can be used by thousands of others—they can send text messages from your number (like I did), use it to call or record your calls, and actually whatever they want, even use it for their hacking activities! I can assure you, I have no intention of harming you or whatever, but, some hackers do! It's just my advice to secure your phone." The hacker had used port scanning to discover jailbroken iPhones running on T-Mobile Netherlands's network that had been jailbroken and were running SSH (commonly used to allow the user to log in to the device via a Terminal and run UNIX commands). In the following hours, the hacker appears to have changed his ways, posting instructions for undoing the hack at no charge. He has also since apologized for asking for money and returned the money he's made from the stunt. [via Ars Technica] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

foamysking Forum Ninja Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: midwest Posts: 126 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	November 3rd, 2009, 07:20 PM #2
	lol id say they deserve it for not understanding security and locking down their iphone but i think it is a step to far to charge people to get there phone back but at least he realized that wasnt so cool __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: 8gb iphone 3g iPhone Version: 3.1 Computer & OS: lepoard, xp, vista, win 7 http://www.iphonehelper.net

Stephen007 Rocks the Board Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Milwaukee WI Posts: 347 Thanks: 20 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	November 4th, 2009, 01:39 PM #3
	Odd. I've tried SSH'ing to my phone over AT&T's network and my phone doesn't respond. I just portscanned it's IP and it also came back with nothing. I had tried this a long time ago when considering whether to change the default root password. I had concluded (whether right or wrong) that AT&T must be filtering out that type of traffic.