Author: Julie Campbell

1,500 applications could be open to hackers as a result of outdated code that they continue to contain.

Analytics company, SourceDNA, has identified a mobile security bug that likely still exists in about 1,500 apps that could open up these iOS App Store applications to “man in the middle” attacks.

The problem exists in the way that the iOS apps create secure connections with servers.

The reason is that this connection that is established has a bug in it. This means that a mobile security exists in that anyone who intercepts the data being transmitted from an iPhone or iPad would be able to access the login names, passwords, and a number of other forms of private information that could be sent by way of the HTTPS protocol. When SourceDNA discovered the bug, it reported that among the companies that have kept the outdated code in at least one of their iOS apps were: Microsoft, Yahoo, Uber, and Citrix. This means that millions of Apple device users could have their privacy threatened if the wrong person should choose to attack.

This type of mobile security threat makes it possible for an attacker to take hold of data on the device.

This is because attacks through a “man in the middle” vulnerability opens the device up to a fake WiFi hotspot in order to be able to intercept data contained in devices that have connected to it. Typically, this sort of attack, which are also frequently called “coffee shop hacks”, isn’t possible because those artificial hotspots don’t have adequate security certificates. However, the bug that has been found in the iOS apps has stopped those applications for properly checking for those certificates.

The origin of the bug was in the AFNetworking open-source networking code which has been used in the development of thousands of different apps in order to allow them to connect to servers. The code’s 2.5.1 version was originally introduced in January and it had the bug within it which allowed the connections to occur without checking for HTTPS mobile security certificates. There has since been a corrected 2.5.2 code introduced, but there remain about 1,500 apps at the iOS App Store that have yet to update.

The Canadian mobile handset maker is lowering the price tag associated with some of its key devices.

According to recently published reports, BlackBerry smartphones are starting to see some notably lower price tags associated with their purchase, including: BlackBerry Classic, BlackBerry Passport, BlackBerry Z30, and BlackBerry Q5.

The company announced the prices on the official store site, this week, and are effective immediately.

Among the Blackberry smartphones that are raising eyebrows in terms of their newly reduced prices are the Classic and the Passport. This is particularly true because these were released with a great deal of fanfare, only last year. The Passport features a 13 megapixel camera and a uniquely square shaped touch screen. The Classic, on the other hand, has an 8 megapixel camera and a considerable 22 hours of battery life.

The Passport BlackBerry smartphone price has been reduced by a hefty $50, bringing it to $549 from $599.

The $50 reduction in price is also available on the Classic, which is now being sold for $399 instead of $449. The $50 appears to be the standard savings that has been applied to all of the devices that have been included in this price reduction. That said, the Q5 will now be sold for an even better price as it has been given an ultra affordable price of $149 instead of its typical price of $249. Similarly, the Z30 is now going for only $229 when it used to be $349.

Those are the prices that have been listed on the U.S. BlackBerry website, but it appears as though the reduction in cost is being applied to the devices around the world. For example, in the United Kingdom, the Passport used to be priced at £559 but now they are being sold for £529 and the Classic, which used to be £319 is now £349.

The reduction in the price of the BlackBerry smartphones occurred following a Morgan Stanley report that indicated that there has a reduction in the sales of the company’s mobile devices. It has been working to increase their sales, particularly among their premium devices. Enhancing affordability appears to be the latest step in the company’s strategy.