News: iPhone “Cheat Code” Bug Appears

Yesterday, a new bug has been found on all iPhones with iOS 4 that have the lock feature turned on. This bug allows unauthorized access to the Phone app, including the contact list, call history, and voicemail.

Reminding a lot of us about the days of video game consoles and certain button sequences to unlock certain features, the process involves tapping Emergency Call, dialing a bogus emergency number, and immediately pressing the lock/power button at the top of the phone. According to Engadget, the bug also allows access to the camera and Voice Control, and has been tested on a 3G, 3GS, and 4.

Update: According to Wired, Apple knows about the issue and a fix is due soon (with 4.2, perhaps?):

An Apple spokeswoman contacted Wired.com with a response regarding the security flaw: “We’re aware of this issue and we will deliver a fix to customers as part of the iOS 4.2 software update in November.”