Windows Malware Found In iOS Application [Updates]

An iOS app called “Instaquotes Quotes Cards for Instagram” has been found to have a piece of Windows malware. However, it’s worth noting that many iOS users will never have a problem resulting from this because it has no effect on the iOS device itself. Also, users with a Mac will not notice any problems resulting from this piece of malicious code.
Users who organize their apps on Windows can be affected by the worm embedded in the app. The exact name of the worm is Worm.VB-900. The first people to report it assumed it was a false positive, but upon further review, it is a very real piece of Windows malware hidden away in an iOS app.
Apps from iTunes come in packages called .ipa files. These packages can contain any number of files that make the app work. When you sync your device to iTunes, the entire package is copied to your PC. If one of those files is malware, it will reside on your PC, and can cause problems.
Thankfully, this particular worm is quite old, and most antivirus software should have little issue removing it. Still, if it could happen with this app, another worm could certainly slip through the cracks again and it could be something worse.


The app has since been removed from the App Store, so you will not be able to download it until it is fixed. Let this serve as a warning that just because an app is meant for your iPhone, it could still contain harmful files for your PC or other device.
Source: Cnet
Image Credit: Screenshot by Topher Kessler/CNET

Apple Turning to Select Retail Store Employees to Help Improve Maps for iOS 6

MacRumors has learned that Apple is piloting a program to tap into its vast number of retail store employees to help improve the company's new Maps app for iOS 6. Details on the initiative remain unclear, but multiple sources have indicated that participating stores will dedicate 40 hours of staff time per week, distributed among a number of employees, to manually examine Apple's mapping data in their areas and submit corrections and improvements. ifoAppleStore posted a Tweet a short time ago indicating that it too has received information on the effort.

It is unknown exactly what procedures will be used to examine the data, whether it simply be side-by-side comparisons with Google Maps data or if more sophisticated efforts such as in-person verification will be used. One source has indicated that a team of ten employees would be participating in the program at one store, with one of those employees being designated a "subject matter expert" to oversee the team and receiving training on how the team will operate. Changes to maps will reportedly be submitted through a dedicated internal portal on Apple's systems.


Apple's new Maps app for iOS 6 has received significant criticism since its launch, with Apple CEO Tim Cook finding it necessary to publish an open letter late last week to apologize for the app's shortcomings and to suggest alternative mapping solutions while Apple works to improve its own maps.

Apple is reportedly aggressively hiring former Google Maps employees in its efforts to quickly improve its new mapping services, but much of the criticism has related to incorrect point-of-interest locations and other data best verified in the field or by those with intimate knowledge of a given area. Apple's network of nearly 400 retail stores represents nearly 40,000 employees scattered across more than a dozen countries, making it an ideal resource for assisting with mapping improvements.

Fortune 500 Company Urging Employees Not to Upgrade to iOS 6 Over Exchange Bug

MacRumors has learned that at least one Fortune 500 company is requesting that its employees not upgrade to iOS 6 over a bug with Microsoft Exchange meeting invitations. The issue has also been reported on Apple's support discussion boards.

The issue appears when users decline a meeting invitation from an iOS 6 device. Instead of simply sending a notification to the meeting organizer that the user will not attend, iOS 6 is sending meeting cancellation notices to the entire distribution list, effectively canceling the invitation for all attendees.


We received this memo that was sent out to all employees at a very large company:

Information Technology Notice

To: Mobile device users who connect personal Apple mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, etc) with company email.

What: On September 27, IT notified you of an intermittent issue caused when calendar appointments are declined from devices running the latest Apple operating system (iOS 6). Apple and Microsoft are providing IT with daily updates on their progress toward a resolution.

Impact: When appointments are declined from an Apple mobile device running iOS 6, a cancellation is sometimes sent to all meeting attendees instead of sending a decline notice to the meeting organizer.

Action to take: Do not upgrade your Apple mobile device to iOS 6. If you have an iPhone 5 or have already upgraded a device to iOS 6, please do not accept or decline calendar appointments from your Apple device until further notice.

Affected companies have notified both Apple and Microsoft, but there does not appear to be a public timeline for a resolution. iOS 6 users have reportedly been affected by another issue with Exchange, this time affecting push delivery of emails.