The big news this morning is that 12 million Apple UDIDS (Unique Device Identifiers) have been compromised. Some reports suggest that the FBI had something to do with this hack. Others state that a FBI computer was hacked, and that this is how hackers gained user information. More sources state that it was really one million users who were hacked and not twelve million. So, as you can see, there are lots of assumptions floating around.
What you need to know is that a large number of Apple UDIDS were stolen, compromised, or otherwise. If you have an iPhone, you might want to continue reading this article. If not, you are in the clear for now. Then again, this article might still prove to be of some interested, just in case you want to taunt your iPhone using friends. Alright, down to the details.
What Is a UDIDS?
What is an Apple UDIDS? Everyone who has an iPhone or is an Apple user has a UDIDS. This unique number is nothing more than a bunch of numbers. Your name, address, and other details are not attached to this number. Well, not directly anyway. So, why does it matter if someone has your UDIDS? Because, it’s easy to control and log into various accounts using just this number. Any number of apps, social networks, and other sites can be logged into using just a UDIDS number.
If you add to that possibility the notion that someone, somewhere, could have a database of UDIDS numbers listed next to a person’s name, you will have a bigger problem. For now, the details concerning the recent Apple hack are largely unclear. But, it is known that Apple is currently working on the problem and trying to rectify the situation.
How Can You Tell If Your Phone Has Been Hacked?
The Internet world is never slow to respond to hacks like this one. Thanks to some people somewhere in the world, various websites have been set up that allow iPhone users to find out whether or not a UDIDS number has been snatched. If you do have an iPhone and you are concerned about identification theft, make sure to visit this website {{http://thenextweb.com/apple/2012/09/04/heres-check-apple-device-udid-compromised-antisec-leak/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheNextWeb+%28The+Next+Web+All+Stories%29|iPhone Test}} in order to see if your phone is safe. If your phone has been hacked, I’m sorry to state that there’s nothing you can really do right now.
Since word of this hack is relatively new, there’s really very little that Apple users can do at the moment. The best course of action is not to react and to hope that the hackers do not use your personal information in any kind of bad way. If you do find that you are being sent droves of push notifications and that your Twitter and Facebook accounts seem to be out of control, you might have a hacking problem. You can try to call your carrier and cancel your phone, bug Apple, or keep reading this blog for additional information. Even though it’s frustrating to know that your identity has been compromised in some way, nothing can be done until Apple comes up with a game plan.