Apple released the second update to its popular iOS 7 mobile operating system on Thursday in order to fix a bug that allowed hackers to bypass a user's lock screen.
The 21MB download "fixes bugs that could allow someone to bypass the lock screen and passcode" according to PCMag. The update, iOS 7.0.2 also brings the Greek keyboard option back to the iPhone's passcode entry.
Jose Rodriguez, a 36-year-old soldier living in Spain, first discovered the bug that hackers could exploit last week. The hack involves using the new Control Center in iOS 7, which can be used to access some of the phone's most frequently used settings options without having to enter the pass code, to access several features that aren't meant to be accessed without entering the user's four-digit security number.
Apple quickly caught wind of the hack and has pushed out an update to fix the security issue. Apple's iPhone 5S came out the same week as the iOS 7 update. The iPhone 5S is boasted as being the most secure smartphone on the market thanks to its new biometric fingerprint scanner, the Touch ID. This feature allows the owner of the device to save his or her fingerprint and use it to unlock the phone, make purchases on iTunes and the App Store as well. With security being the iPhone 5S' big selling point, obviously the company didn't want a blatant security hack available in its latest iOS.
To take advantage of the update, iOS users need only to go to their Settings > General > Software Update and you should see the prompt for the 7.0.2 update. Users can also simply plug their device into their computer and update via iTunes.
iOS 7 made its debut on Sept. 18. It is available as a free upgrade for the iPhone 4 and above, iPad 2 and above, iPad mini and all fifth-generation iPod Touches. Apple revealed that nearly 200 million iOS devices have made the switch over to iOS 7 which, thanks to the new software update, is secure once again.
