On Thursday, the U.S. government released a statement for all iPhone and iPad users warning that a vulnerability in Apple’s iOS mobile operating system could give hackers access to their private information, Reuters reports.
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The security flaw was originally disclosed by the security firm FireEye earlier this week. FireEye warned users that hackers could use the exploit to replace authentic apps with duplicates which would allow them to infiltrate an iOS device once the user downloaded the fake app.
According to Reuters, the government says that “hackers could potentially steal login credentials, access sensitive data stored on iOS devices and remotely monitor activity on those devices.”
In the meantime, users should only download apps directly from Apple’s App Store. Don’t trust any third-party sources until the issue has been resolved.
“Users should not click “Install” from pop-ups when surfing the web,” says the government’s bulletin. “If iOS flashes a warning that says “Untrusted App Developer,” users should click on “Don’t Trust” and immediately uninstall the app.”
