The iPhone OS is a great operating system and is also one of the safest. That’s why Apple rejected the anti-virus application developed by Kaspersky Lab. Such app will never make it to AppStore, just because users don’t need it.

Some users who run the jailbreak might catch a virus. However if they do everything right – there will be no troubles and no viruses.

This week Steve Jobs answered an email question from Sweden. The question was from Jezper Söderlund:

I’ll keep it short.

I’m Jezper from Sweden, a long time Apple fan, currently about to replace the very last computer at home with a brand spanking new iMac i7. I’m also awaiting the release of the iPad. However, I have one question:

Will the wifi-only version somehow support tethering thru my iPhone?

Two devices, based on the same OS, with already built-in technology to share one data plan suggests a secondary contract could possibly be redundant.

From the look of your keynote, where the iPad sits well between my MacBook Pro and my iPhone, I was hoping the three of them could interact as seamless as possible.

All the best,
Jezper Söderlund

This is a very interesting question, since iPad’s network settings with tethering were found recently. Here is Jobs’ answer:

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The number of jailbreak utilities for iPhones and iPod Touches with the latest iBoot is dramatically increasing. All of them are FAKE. Some of them will fill your computer with viruses, which is not good.

gull1hack, spartanbr3ak, br0k3n_appl3 are just some of these new programs that in one way or another deceive the user and then run malicious code. We therefore ask you to stay away from ANY such software. Some time in the future GeoHot or DevTeam will release new jailbreak and unlock software. Other than that is fake and dangerous. Install only programs you trust or the ones recommended by iPhoneRoot.

Here is a twitter comment from DevTeam:

A second iPhone worm virus has been found by security company F-Secure. It is specifically targeting people in the Netherlands who are using their iPhones for internet banking with Dutch online bank ING.

It redirects the bank’s customers to a site with a log-in screen (phishing). The worm attacks “jailbroken” phones – a modification which enables the user to run non-Apple approved software on their handset. Only handsets with installed SSH (secure shell) are at risk. SSH is a file-transfer program that enables users to remotely connect to their phones. It comes with a default password, ‘alpine’ which should be changed.

Here is a tutorial how to change the default SSH password and minimize the risk.

This is quite simple. If you did a jailbreak on your iPhone you need to change the default password. Why? Because hackers can access your phone, read your mail, sms, download other data. The second reason is because there are already several viruses (worms) that use these default passwords.

Here’s a quick step-by-step tutorial.

1. If you don’t have MobileTerminal application installed: run Cydia, search for MobileTerminal and install.
2. Run MobileTerminal.
3. Type passwd and press return.
4. Enter the default user password alpine and press return.
5. Enter a new password and press return.
6. Enter a new password again and press return.
7. Congratulations, you changed it for default mobile user. Let’s do the same for root user.
8. Login as root user: type su root and press return.
9. Type alpine for password
10. Type passwd and press return.
11. Enter a new password and press return.
12. Enter a new password again and press return.
13. That’s it!

The passwords are now changed, and your jailbroken iPhone or iPod Touch is now a bit more secure than it was before and less vulnerable to the worm detected recently.

The new ad called Top of the Line features actor Patrick Warburton who is best known for his portrayal of David Puddy from the Seinfeld sitcom. It focuses on potential viruses and other “headaches” that may affect PCs, but not Macs. A second ad called Surprise was also posted today delivering a similar message:

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If you have updated AVG to the latest version, your antivirus may indicate the presence of a Trojan virus inside the iTunes directory. Files iTunes.dll and iTunesRegistry.dll are mistaken as Trojan horse Small.BOG.

This problem was found by many people, Apple support forum is full of similar reports. If you use Windows and have encountered the same problem, just wait for a patch to antivirus software and delete the iTunes directory from scanning with AVG.

It is reported today that Cydia could be affected by a virus. The package “snes4iphone” in the repository “zottd” may contain malicious code. The package would not lead to serious damage, but executes a script that installs an advertisement in all the html pages of Cydia, including the initial one.

If any of you thisnk your Cydia is affected, simply reinstall it via this route:

“Manage” -> “Package” -> “Cydia Installer” -> “Modify” -> “Reinstall”