iPhone 4 Bug Lets Anyone Bypass Your Phone Lock

Your iPhone has a screen lock passcode set up, so all of your data is safe… right?  Think again, there is a new exploit for the iPhone 4 or iPhone 3G(S) running iOS 4.1 that allows people to easily break in and access your contact list, photos, voicemail, and call history.

The iOS exploit works as follows on a locked iPhone:

1. Tap the Emergency Call button
2. Dial ###
3. Tap the Call button and near simultaneously Press the Lock button (on the top of the phone)

From this point anyone performing the exploit will now be in the Dialer application of the phone.

Vimeo user Salomão Filho was the first to post a video of the glitch, but he is speaking Portuguese so I’ve found this English video on YouTube that explains it in English.

Unfortunately there isn’t much you can do to protect your self from the exploit, just don’t lose your phone.  Apple has told Wired magazine that they are aware of the problem but they aren’t in too big of a hurry to patch it as the fix will be rolled out in version iOS 4.2 next month.