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Before you update iOS 10, know about its flaws

Photo: FILE Photo: FILE

Apple latest version of iOS made its debut days ago, but tech researchers have already found a major security flaw, that can make your device vulnerable to hacking.

The flaw was found in its iTunes backup protection mechanism, leaving the otherwise safe software vulnerable to password-cracking tools, reports iOS forensics company Elcomsoft. The company reported that that iOS 10's password security checks for backups are 2,500 times weaker as compared to password-crackers than previous versions of iOS.

The Cupertino based tech giant however, has admitted of the vulnerability in its latest software. "We're aware of an issue that affects the encryption strength for backups of devices on iOS 10 when backing up to iTunes on the Mac or PC. We are addressing this issue in an upcoming security update," said an Apple spokesperson in a statement to Forbes.

However, Apple stressed that the flaw "does not affect iCloud backups."

"We recommend users ensure their Mac or PC are protected with strong passwords and can only be accessed by authorized users. Additional security is also available with FileVault whole disk encryption," added the spokesperson.

The vulnerability is a boon for hackers, if the password to the backup is cracked, the hacker can gain direct access to person’s device data in its saved state, reported Tech Portal, which includes the keychain file, which stores all the user’s login and password information.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2016