Apple’s continuing success as a company is encouraging more cybercriminals to try to exploit the popularity of the company’s products to distribute malware.

The latest such scam involves spam e-mail messages addressed to iPad users. The messages direct recipients — who may or may not be iPad users — to click on a Web link that appears to host an iTunes update and to install the update

The text isn’t so poorly written as to be farcical. Even so, the use of the passive voice in the first sentence and the awkward wording suggests that the note’s author doesn’t work as a marketing professional at Apple or anywhere else.

“There were released updates for software installed on your iPad device,” the message begins. “It is very important to keep the software on your iPad updated for best performance, newer features and security.”

Recipients who happen to open this message on a Windows PC and comply with “update” instructions do not actually receive an update.

“Unfortunately for these users, following the malicious link means opening up a direct line to their sensitive data as instead of the promised iTunes update they get malware on their systems,” said Sabina Datcu, security researcher for BitDefender, in a blog post.

BidDefender identifies the malicious code as Backdoor.Bifrose.AADY, which attempts to infect Internet Explorer to open a back door in the victim’s system. It’s designed to scour infected systems for software serial numbers and to capture login and password information.

Mac users, not to mention those reading their e-mail on their iPads, don’t have to worry about this particularly malware.

In reporting its fiscal second quarter results last week, Apple did not disclose the number of iPads it had sold, but company executives said they were happy with iPad sales.

Apple previously said it had sold 300,000 iPads on April 3, the day it began selling the devices and delivering them to customers who had pre-ordered.

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Resource:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224600439

VODAFONE Hutchison Australia and Telstra will have the Apple iPad ready for sale in about six weeks, ahead of rival Optus.

Eager fans hoping to get their hands on the hyped-up device had a rude shock today when Apple pushed the original April launch to the end of May.

VHA will offer the 3G and Wi-Fi iPad to Vodafone and 3 Mobile customers with a range of dedicated price plans for all models of the touchscreen tablet. But the telco is keeping mum on what the actual price plans will entail or whether they will be available in post or pre-paid options.

Telstra has also said it will offer dedicated iPad price plans but it is unclear if the telco will have all versions of the device for sale.

Optus is yet to reveal if it will stock the iPad.

The iPad was scheduled to hit local shores at the end of this month but Apple has been forced to delay its arrival due to the overwhelming demand for the device in the US.

This is the second time Apple has had to put back an iPad launch: in January, its US debut was rescheduled to April after analysts reported that production delays and difficulties with suppliers would limit the number of units available.

Apple has sold more than 500,000 iPads since it first went on sale at the start of April, but a glut of complaints about poor Wi-Fi connections and problems with charging the device have marred its launch.

Only the Wi-Fi version of the iPad has been released in the US but a 3G version is expected to be available later this month. iPad prices range from $US499 ($534) to $US829.

Resource:

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/vodafone-3-mobile-first-with-ipad/story-e6frgakx-1225854030536