FBI steps in to investigate iPad security breach

You might recall yesterday's news that a little trickery into AT&T's systems brought about the breach of 114,000 Apple iPad-owning email addresses. Now it seems the FBI has taken an interest in the case and has launched an investigation into the "potential cyber threat" of the snafu. As far as we know and have seen, the hackers were able to obtain just email addresses, although with that comes the knowledge that the victims in question own iPad 3Gs and don't mind AT&T's service -- don't click on any odd billing statements if you were affected. As stated previously, the carrier has subsequently apologized and proverbially "plugged the hole" from which the info was obtained. Not sure anything will come of this inquiry, but we'll let you know what we hear.

[ddschneider1972 Posted Jun 10th 2010 10:23PM]

Adolf Jobs vill not have this!
Someone vill be in the Cupertino Concentration Camp!
Heil Apfel!

[Oshitheguru Posted Jun 10th 2010 10:26PM]

I Just bought an ipad today (dad's) and I signed up for 3G XD
lol

[coolduder1 Posted Jun 10th 2010 10:26PM]

Fubar!

[trashoner Posted Jun 10th 2010 10:44PM]

Let it be noticed. I don't wanna hear again that google bull crap saying that they aren't using windows in their business because they aren't as secured as Linux or Mac systems. A system/OS is as secured as it's own popularity. Take a hint and next time wait for other people to be the tester of a new platform instead of lining up at whatever new device comes out there.

[madgunde Posted Jun 11th 2010 9:43PM]

@trashoner Fair enough. AT&T's webserver is running Linux, but I hardly think this one case cancels out the millions of Windows security breeches that happen annually.

Of course, this article has nothing to do with Mac OS X or the iPad's security, so I'm assuming you were taking a jab at Linux?

[trashoner Posted Jun 10th 2010 10:51PM]

apple has the safest devices out there. don't believe it read it!
http://www.infoworld.com/d/security-central/microsoft-vs-apple-who-patches-zero-days-faster-651

[fast Posted Jun 10th 2010 11:10PM]

@trashoner ...yeah...shure they do...infoworld said so....shure. Denial is bliss.

[A25i Posted Jun 10th 2010 11:19PM]

@fast
Sure.

[sejohannsenearthlinknet Posted Jun 10th 2010 11:17PM]

Maybe I'm confused. Doesn't sound like anyone hacked any iPads/iPods/iPhones. Sounds like they hacked some AT&T something that had iPad owner info (though apparently just e-mail addresses). Doesn't seem to make the iWhatever or its OS a problem, makes whatever was hosting that info a problem. Bet AT&T's DBs run on Android ;)

[NoAddedSugar Posted Jun 11th 2010 6:21AM]

@sejohannsenearthlinknet that last tidbit at the end makes you look like an ass.

[sejohannsenearthlinknet Posted Jun 11th 2010 6:47PM]

@NoAddedSugar Guess humor is lost on some. Probably the same folks who think the iPad got hacked.

[ajadoniz Posted Jun 10th 2010 11:20PM]

it wasn't a hole, it was a feature!

[hype22 Posted Jun 10th 2010 11:41PM]

FBI...where have they been when all the PC's got hacked ...now it is ATT and Ipad and they are going to look into it...everyone who knows anything about anything knows apple is not that hard to hack...previous to their rise no one cared ..not enough people to bother with..I am prepared to take crap about what i said but everyone knows it is the truth

[madgunde Posted Jun 11th 2010 9:38PM]

@hype22 Except that it had nothing to do with iPad security. It was strictly a breach of AT&T's webserver.

Nice try in attempting to make it look like this had anything to do with Apple's security.

[quade Posted Jun 10th 2010 11:52PM]

So they know 1 of my 50 dummy email addresses, big deal. My private address remains covert.

[aidanharris Posted Jun 11th 2010 1:10AM]

Apple must take lesson from this breach and ensure full security of the iPad owners taking into account their privacy demands.
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/pure-cleanse-pro-review-where-to-buy-2599833.html

[InfDaMarvel Posted Jun 11th 2010 1:20AM]

Ooooo so much for security. Then again this happens a lot more on the PC.

[ArticiaS Posted Jun 11th 2010 4:04AM]

Wait, wait.

They are going after those that made a security leak public and not after the company that made it possible to get all your personal data on the internet?

LOL. Only in the US.

[madgunde Posted Jun 11th 2010 9:33PM]

@ArticiaS Um, last time I checked, someone's email address isn't considered "all your personal data".

RTFA. The only data the group were able to obtain were people's email addresses.

[shizzledmg Posted Jun 11th 2010 5:48AM]

at&t works hard to loose a lucrative business partner.


good job at&t

[Kejeza Posted Jun 11th 2010 8:39AM]

Oh I love the trolls here...not bad. I think most people aren't taking into account that it isn't the "iPad" that is being broken into...it's AT&T.

Since I don't care what happens here because I don't own an iPad, I shall take the stance that the Dharma Initiative did it...and the algorithm that broke the code was in fact equal to 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42.

Try and argue with that stupid trolls HA!

[fast Posted Jun 11th 2010 12:24PM]

This just in...FBI thinks ipad is just aconsumer grade low level computational device that anyone can break in or forge its ID, coudn't care less about clueless jerks that bought it. Next.

[stoker25 Posted Jun 11th 2010 12:40PM]

This kind of stuff happens all the time, all that they got were ID's and emails, most website dumps contain much more (passwords, security questions, etc) and I never see the FBI step in to help them?

[madgunde Posted Jun 11th 2010 9:30PM]

Wow Engadget, how dumb are you guys? Seriously?

"FBI steps in to investigate iPad security breach"

This was NOT an iPad security breach, it was an AT&T webserver security breach. Do your fscking homework and correct your erroneous headline already.

To those of you who are even hinting at any fault on Apple or the iPad's part in this, seriously, read the damn article and get a friggin' clue already.

Man, so many dumb people on the internet.

[moizsaleemvarind Posted Jun 13th 2010 4:33AM]

FBI can call for a closure of iPad production until security breach issue is resolved, also FBI can ask AT & T to stop their service on iPad until security protocol issue is resolved, seize Apple’s records, everything, read about all this on my post :

http://www.worldshotcake.com/apple/fbi-can-blame-and-claim-apple-inc/

Take Care ! Moiz Saleem Varind