Millions of Older iPhones at Risk... Concerns Rise Over Release of Hacking Tool

iPhone Hacking Tools Spreading Online
Potential to Steal Internet History, Photos, and More

Concerns are mounting over potential misuse after software tools enabling easy hacking of older iPhones have been released online.

According to U.S. IT media outlet TechCrunch on March 23 (local time), the latest version of the iPhone hacking tool "DarkSword" was recently released via the developer code-sharing site GitHub. DarkSword is a hacking tool designed to extract personal information from devices such as iPhones and iPads. The tool is mainly used to quickly infect devices and steal passwords, photos, messenger records, and internet history. In particular, it has been analyzed that it targets devices running older operating systems (OS), including iOS 18, which was released in 2024.

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The problem is that a significant number of iPhone users still use older operating systems. According to Apple's survey in February, 34% of iPhones and 43% of iPads worldwide are running iOS 18 or older OS versions. Considering Apple's total number of active devices is 2.5 billion, it is estimated that at least several hundred million devices are at risk of hacking.

Matthias Prillingsdorf, co-founder of mobile security firm iVerifyPie, also pointed out that this hacking tool "works without any special configuration and requires no expertise in iOS." Regarding the tool's release on GitHub, he warned, "There is no way to stop its spread," and added, "We should expect criminals to begin exploiting this technology."

Amid the controversy, Apple stated that it is aware of the vulnerability and has recently released an emergency update for older devices that cannot install the latest OS. The company emphasized, "Keeping your software up to date is the single most important step you can take to protect the security of your Apple products."

Meanwhile, older iPhones continue to enjoy popularity in Korea. Although their performance lags behind newer models, the unique warm tones and lower image quality of old iPhone cameras are gaining attention as sentimental features among younger generations. Additionally, as the prices of new smartphones rise, demand is also being influenced by consumers seeking relatively affordable devices.

In fact, transactions involving devices such as the iPhone 6 remain steady on domestic secondhand trading platforms. Furthermore, the iPhone X and XS series, known for their smooth and warm color tones, are often used as "sub-cameras."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.