Apple patches iPhone SMS flaw

Apple has issued a fix for a much-publicised security hole in its iPhone handset.

The company issued the iPhone 3.0.1 software update to address the vulnerability within the iPhone's SMS software.

The flaw potentially allows an attacker to take control of a targeted phone by way of a specially-crafted SMS message. Once the flaw has been exploited, an attacker can install malware on the device or use it to perform spam runs and further attacks.

Discovery of the flaw was credited to security researchers Charlie Miller and Collin Mulliner, who formally announced and detailed the flaw at the Black Hat security conference.

The researchers noted that similar flaws exist in the SMS components for the Google Android and Windows Mobile platforms.

As with all other iPhone software updates, users can download and install the update through iTunes.

The update is then installed when the user plugs the handset into an authorised Mac or PC system.

Discovery of the vulnerability comes as both experts and cybercriminals have been giving increased attention to mobile phones, both in terms of securing flaws and realising potential avenues of attacks and uses for compromised devices.