Apple has explained why it released its first iOS 10 beta with an unencrypted kernel. Some security experts suggested the move may have been unintentional, but it was part of Apple’s plan all along.
The kernel baked into iOS, like any kernel, marries software with hardware. It’s the core of the operating system, and it’s responsible for managing security, memory, system processes, and requests from installed apps.
It was revealed on Wednesday that iOS 10 beta 1 was released with an unencrypted kernel, which makes getting into it infinitely easier. There’s a good reason for this, Apple says — and it does not leave users exposed.
“The kernel cache doesn’t contain any user info, and by unencrypting it we’re able to optimize the operating system’s performance without compromising security,” a company spokesperson explained to TechCrunch.
All previous releases of iOS — including the betas — have shipped with encrypted kernels, preventing third-parties from getting into them. This has helped keep Apple’s code a secret, and made it harder to find flaws that could be exploited.
But by making those flaws easier to find during the beta testing phase, Apple can fix them faster. That means that by the time iOS 10 makes its public debut in September, it should be even more secure, and even harder to hack.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
8 responses to “Apple explains why iOS 10 kernel was intentionally left open”
So it’s shipping with unencrypted kernels in the betas to find bugs, and then they’re gunna fix them and send the public version with a locked kernel?
That’s how I read it!
So are they smarter going forward or were they really stupid for last 9 years?
It could just be a way for them covering up their ass as thi sis Apple we are talking about.
It could be neither. Perhaps prior versions of iOS still contained user data, so encrypting it was a necessity that no longer applies in the current release! I.e. it’s just part of any software developer’s quest of improving the software.
My understanding is that “kernel cache” is something very different than what most people think or assume it is.
the only kind of kernels I like are popcorn kernels with extra butter while I watch Pulp Fiction on Blu-Ray!!!
Wow, that’s a corny pun.
Theres only one problem, some of the “easier to find” flaws will not be corrected and by doing this they just gave the blueprints to the bank we are trying to rob….