Researchers detail ‘Jekyll’ malware test app approved by Apple on the App Store

Researchers managed to sneak a harmful application past Apple’s App Store review process earlier this year, the MIT Technology Review reports. The malware, which is being called “Jekyll”, was capable of sending messages, stealing information and exposing the device to even more exploits.

The test app, which was uploaded by researchers at Georgia Tech, posed as an open source Hacker News app, but it contained intentional vulnerabilities that could be activated remotely. An Apple spokesperson told the Technology Review that the company had addressed the issues in question in iOS.

While the study isn’t a major cause for alarm, it should remind users to be cautious and not automatically trust apps on the App Store simply because Apple has signed off on them. For a detailed explanation of how the malware works, see Nick Arnott’s article over at iMore.

Image credit: JEAN-SEBASTIEN EVRARD / AFP / Getty Images