Apple Pulls Malicious Russian Spam App

Apple has pulled a malicious app from its App Store after the Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab reported that it was a Trojan that uploads a user's contact info to the developer's servers.

"At first glance, this seemed to be an SMS worm spread via sending short messages to all contacts stored in the phone book with the URL to itself," explained Kaspersky Lab‘s Denis Maslennikov. "However, our analysis of the iOS and Android versions of the same application showed that it’s not an SMS worm but a Trojan that uploads a user’s phonebook to remote server. The ‘replication’ part is done by the server – SMS spam messages with the URL to the application are being sent from the remote server to all the contacts in the user’s address book.”

App Store Malware

The application mostly attacked Russian users, but it was available worldwide via the App Store and Google Play for Android devices. Kaspersky Lab reminded everyone that "there have not been any incidents of malware inside the iOS Apple App Store since its launch 5 years ago."

Five Great Food and Drink Apps

According to an email sent to iOS developers, Apple is adding a new dedicated "food and drink" section to its App Store. The new category will include “apps that help users cook and bake, mix drinks, manage recipes, find new restaurants and bars, and learn what their friends like to eat and drink”. Food & Drink won’t include diet, grocery shopping, coupon clipping, or food-related game apps”. Most of the food apps, which are normally listed under "Lifestyle" by their developers, will be automatically migrated to the new Food & Drink category starting on July 8th.

Food and Drink Apps

Here's a list of some popular apps that you should be able to find under the new "Food & Drink" section:

Chefs Feed (free for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch) - A great app for Foodies or people who are overwhelmed when visiting major cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. The app features over 100 famous chefs' favorite dishes, places to eat and it allows users to receive up to the minute updates via its live feed.

HiddenHelper Allows You to Multitask While Using Siri

HiddenHelper, the new jailbreak tweak for the iPhone, allows you to use Siri without the Siri interface popping up on your Home screen. This can be helpful when you want to set your alarm or dictate a note on your iPhone while you are using the device for something else, and you don't want Siri to interrupt. For example, Siri will not interrupt your Angry Birds game by displaying the note you just dictated to her. It's a great multitasking tool.

Jailbreak Tweaks

HiddenHelper also allows you to decide which Siri snippets you want displayed, and which snippets you want disabled. Asking Siri to tell you about the weather is useless without the UI because Siri displays the temperature instead of reading it to you. Wolfram Alpha queries are also pointless without Siri displaying the results.

Need to Send a Postcard to Jail? There's An App For That!

Sending postcards to jail just got easier thanks to a new iPhone app called FlikShop. The app allows users to easily create and send personalized postcards to prison inmates in three easy steps.

iPhone Apps

The app is very simple to use: Select a photo from your iPhone's library, write a personalized message, fill in the prisoner's name, inmate number and select the state and institution you would like the postcard to be mailed to. After a $.99 charge, FlikShop will deliver a glossy, 600dpi postcard with a removable and personalized note to your favorite inmate. Don't have an iPhone? No problem! Just visit Flikshop.com to send a postcard directly from your computer.

Pre-Paid iPhone Arrives at Virgin Mobile

Prepaid iPhones have arrived at Virgin Mobile, giving those who prefer a contract-free smartphone a new option. Virgin joins Cricket Wireless in offering the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S unsubsidized with month-to-month billing.

Virgin Mobile pre-paid iPhone

Pricing is set at $650 for the 16 GB iPhone 4S, and $550 for the 8 GB iPhone 4, matching Apple's currently listed unlocked iPhone prices. Although this may cost more than Verizon's or AT&T's subsidized devices with a two-year contract, customers can save on data plans with Virgin Mobile.

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