iPanic!
In case you missed tonight’s episode of Fair Go, TV One’s consumer watchdog programme has been investigating allegations of security issues with iTunes accounts and the result is somewhat inconclusive to say the least. The story revolves around a chap whose iTunes account was apparently ‘hacked’ to the tune of $800 in a month. No actual evidence of hackery was offered, above and beyond the victim saying he didn’t make the purchases that appeared on his credit card bill, and while I totally feel for him, I can’t help but think that this could simply be a case of his password being shared with or overseen by the wrong person rather than an endemic case of iTunes security flaws. Read on for more details, and the link to watch the piece.
The piece was riddled with the usual mainstream-media gaffes like the presenter (Phil Vine) typing the term ‘itunes account hacked’ into Google and exclaiming “Look! 1.45 million results!” (No shit, Phil, that’s 1.45 million sites that contain the word ‘iTunes’ or ‘account’ or ‘hacked’ or any combination thereof. Put the same term in quotation marks to search for that specific phrase and you’ll find less than a tenth of that. Narrow it down to New Zealand results only, and you’ll find just four (and one of the results is this story). Oh and strolling into a branch of MagnumMac expecting to be able to talk to somebody in charge at iTunes.
It’s a shame that Apple wouldn’t co-operate to look into this further because TVNZ could be right, even if they did nothing to actually prove it. If nothing else, the story may serve as a timely reminder for people to be careful with how they use their credit cards online, and to check your iTunes account history now and again to check for any ‘odd’ transactions. In general, though, I think it comes down to password management: use a good password, and don’t share it with anybody. If you do share it with somebody and then your relationship with that person goes south, change it.
Anyway, check out the video for yourselves and let me know what you think in the comments.
– ‘iTunes Alert’, via TVNZ
Over the past 2 years or so, I’ve started using gift cards to top up my iTunes account. Not because I’m concerned about the security of my account, but because it’s cheaper. You can find discounts quite regularly from retailers on iTunes gift cards between 5-25%. I always stock up with discount cards so I have one around for when my account gets low.
Earlier this week, when there were reports of accounts being hacked (or whatever happened) I decided to delete my credit card information from iTunes. They don’t need that information anymore since I’ve only been using gift cards. Whether you’re paranoid or just looking for a bargain (who wouldn’t be?) I would recommend doing this. You can only spend what you have on your account and the same goes with a “hacker.”
(yum9me has made 28 comments)
That was a real hatchet job from FairGo. Do they really think MagnumMac runs iTunes, or are they just happy to imply that? Either incompetence or dishonesty, either of which tells me that there is little point watching FairGo again.
Apple could easily undo the fraudulent transactions, and cancel any payout to the developers who are using the hacked accounts, stone-walling the media is big mistake.
(Craig has made 57 comments)
The problem here is that non-tech-savy people, who lets be honest is more than most, would take this as a huge issue.
For those who know a bit more about technology it’s obvious that this is a TV version of linkbait. FairGo wanted to do a story about online credit card usage, but they know if they use the work “Apple” instead of the word “Fletcher’s world of online carpets” they are going to get more attention.
Either the people making the show don’t really know anything about what they are reporting on or even worse, they do know, but they also know how to word their argument in a way which makes it vague enough to scare people, without any real facts.
It’s a shame, because I for one can never again watch this show and not think “I don’t know much about what they are reporting, I wonder what their not telling me here?” They clearly have no integrity, or at the very least they certainly have none left with me.
(muttys has made 9 comments)
Interesting timing on this TUAW article!
A 'non-story.'
(pknz has made 92 comments)