Bugs in Apple iOS 5: Know How Anyone With a Smart Cover Can Burgle Your iPad 2

Various reports of security glitches in Apple's latest iOS 5 keep on emerging. Adding to the issues that people were facing while upgrading their iOS devices, a new flaw has surfaced, wherein iPad 2 owners using the Smart Cover unlocking enabled in iOS 5 are exposed to a bug that can break into their password-protected iPad 2.

According to a report by 9to5Mac, if a user has Smart Cover unlocking enabled in iOS 5 and uses a Smart Cover to protect the iPad 2, there is an easy way to access the last screen the user left open before locking the tablet.

Recreating the Flaw

In order to re-create the flaw, you first have to enable password protection on the iPad 2 and then you need to lock the device. Second, you need to hold the power button down until you see the slide to power off slider at the top of the screen. Now, you have to close the Smart Cover over the iPad2 and open it again. After that, you need to tap the cancel on the bottom of the screen. What you can see next is the last screen that was open on the tablet before you locked it.

If you unlock your iPad 2 with the Smart Cover, you can access whatever screen you were last on. For instance, if you leave your e-mails, messages or contacts open on the tablet, then that data could easily be accessed.

If you left your iPad 2 on its Home screen, the person can view which applications you have on your device, control media from the multitasking bar, but not much else, the 9to5Mac report said.

The flaw doesn't completely unlock the iPad 2; you can't open any app or perform any task.

Check the video below:

According to the report, the bug can be fixed temporarily by disabling the Smart Cover unlocking on the iPad 2 in the settings menu under the general tab.

This is the second iOS 5-related security issue that 9to5Mac has discovered since the launch of the new Apple OS. Earlier this week, it discovered a flaw in Apple's voice-activated virtual assistant, Siri, which allows users to make phone calls and send e-mails or text messages from the password-protected iPhone 4S' lock screen, CNET reported.

However, a MacWorld report came up with a solution to the problem last week. As per the report, the issue can be avoided by turning off the Siri support in the OS' Passcode Lock settings.

More Issues!

According to The INQUIRER, Steve Wozniak, the chief scientist at Fusion-IO has said that upgrading to iOS 5 bricked two of his iPhones. One of the two iPhones was even unrecoverable and had to be replaced.