iOS 5.0.1 Fixes iPad 2’s Smart Cover Hack

Apple pushed out an iOS 5.0.1 update to registered developers yesterday, which fixes a number of bugs and addresses an issue with poor battery life on a number of its devices. However, it also fixes another glitch that Apple didn’t mention: the iPad 2’s Smart Cover hack, which allowed anyone to gain access to your passcode protected device using only its Smart Cover.

We wrote about the hack a couple weeks ago when it was first discovered by 9to5Mac’s Mark Gurman. Mark published a video in which he demonstrated the glitch — showing just how simple it is to access a passcode protected iPad 2:

As you can see from the clip, the hack is performed by closing the device’s Smart Cover while on the ‘slide to power off’ menu. In Apple’s latest iOS 5 update, however, it has disabled the Smart Cover’s ability to put the device to sleep while in this menu, eradicating the security vulnerability.

The company hasn’t turned off the Smart Cover’s ability to put the device to sleep altogether — just while the ‘slide to power off’ button is displayed.

The iOS 5.0.1 update is already in the hands of registered developers, with a public release expected in the coming weeks.

• Via 9to5Mac

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