4 ms·

iPhones and iPads are perceived by some as invulnerable to viruses or spyware, like a game console. It is important to note that this is not the case.

msbarnett 15y ago
Sure. But to what audience does that need highlighting? Is extremetech's audience really so unfamiliar with the basics of technology that they needed an article to point out that this remote code exploit demonstrates that users are vulnerable to a remote code exploit? I get that there is some audience that might need to have it pointed out to them that people walking into your house and taking your stuff illustrates how vulnerable unlocked doors are, but is the audience for that article really hanging out at extremedoorlocks and commenting on Locksmith News?
- seabee 15y ago
  > Is extremetech's audience really so unfamiliar with the basics of technology that they needed an article to point out that this remote code exploit demonstrates that users are vulnerable to a remote code exploit? I think you hugely overestimate both people's understanding of technology and the average reader of that site. (Here's a hint: this is who owns extremetech: http://www.ziffdavis.com/ http://www.ziffdavis.com/) Sufficiently advanced technology turns into a black box. Jailbreaking is presented to the user as an installation process, the only difference is it's done on your phone. It isn't presented as something that could happen automatically and without your consent. Before they can understand the implications of an exploit themselves, they have to understand: 1) it can be activated merely by following a link, not by following some benign 'install procedure' 2) it has unrestricted access to your phone, it is not merely flipping a 'install whatever apps I like' switch 3) the bad guys can do it too Not all of which are obvious to a user who has been wrapped in wool by Apple's walled garden. In contrast, the facts of an unlocked door are so incredibly obvious and simple that they don't require more than a sentence to understand. Your analogy is better put as "Leaving your door unlocked saves time spent looking for your keys, and prevents you ever getting locked out if you forget them! However, this means anybody else can go into your house, and even take your stuff. That's why it's important to lock your door." And if extremedoorlocks is aimed at the same kind of person who would visit extremetech, yes, they probably do.
  - msbarnett 15y ago
    > it has unrestricted access to your phone, it is not merely flipping a 'install whatever apps I like' switch Yeah, that's a fair point, I suppose. You need some basically familiarity with the internals of the system in order to know that there is no such benign switch.

msbarnett 15y ago

Sure. But to what audience does that need highlighting? Is extremetech's audience really so unfamiliar with the basics of technology that they needed an article to point out that this remote code exploit demonstrates that users are vulnerable to a remote code exploit? I get that there is some audience that might need to have it pointed out to them that people walking into your house and taking your stuff illustrates how vulnerable unlocked doors are, but is the audience for that article really hanging out at extremedoorlocks and commenting on Locksmith News?

seabee 15y ago
> Is extremetech's audience really so unfamiliar with the basics of technology that they needed an article to point out that this remote code exploit demonstrates that users are vulnerable to a remote code exploit? I think you hugely overestimate both people's understanding of technology and the average reader of that site. (Here's a hint: this is who owns extremetech: http://www.ziffdavis.com/ http://www.ziffdavis.com/) Sufficiently advanced technology turns into a black box. Jailbreaking is presented to the user as an installation process, the only difference is it's done on your phone. It isn't presented as something that could happen automatically and without your consent. Before they can understand the implications of an exploit themselves, they have to understand: 1) it can be activated merely by following a link, not by following some benign 'install procedure' 2) it has unrestricted access to your phone, it is not merely flipping a 'install whatever apps I like' switch 3) the bad guys can do it too Not all of which are obvious to a user who has been wrapped in wool by Apple's walled garden. In contrast, the facts of an unlocked door are so incredibly obvious and simple that they don't require more than a sentence to understand. Your analogy is better put as "Leaving your door unlocked saves time spent looking for your keys, and prevents you ever getting locked out if you forget them! However, this means anybody else can go into your house, and even take your stuff. That's why it's important to lock your door." And if extremedoorlocks is aimed at the same kind of person who would visit extremetech, yes, they probably do.
- msbarnett 15y ago
  > it has unrestricted access to your phone, it is not merely flipping a 'install whatever apps I like' switch Yeah, that's a fair point, I suppose. You need some basically familiarity with the internals of the system in order to know that there is no such benign switch.