IBM, more than a year which is Apple’s partner in the field of corporate mobility, welcomed the Apple transition to six-digit passwords in iOS 9, according to Pcweek.
Devices equipped with iOS 9, will by default support the six-digit password. “The addition of two digits has made the iOS devices less vulnerable for hackers as the number of possible passwords will increase from 10,000 to one million,” said Caleb Barlow, Vice President of mobile management and security IBM.
“The move to six-digit passwords are not only difficult for hackers trying to get to corporate data on BYOD devices, but also gives companies the opportunity to improve their BYOD policy,” he said.
In his post in the IBM Security Intelligence blog Barlow wrote that, according to recent company research with coverage of a million corporate and BYOD devices, nearly 90% of companies cost using a simple numeric PIN codes. While 80% require only the most basic security settings. The expert added that, according to “iOS Hackers’ Handbook”, a four – or five-digit PIN can be cracked in just 18 min.
In light of these facts Apple innovations are a step in the right direction. As figuratively expressed Barlow, “it’s two small steps for users, one giant leap for mobile security in General.” Barlow believes that the decisive actions taken by Apple to serve for companies as an opportunity and a call to renew and strengthen its BYOD policy.
Barlow also noted that, according to the results of another study by IBM, 40% of the companies, including representatives of Fortune 500, providing little protection mobile apps they create for their clients. The research also showed that 67% of companies allow their employees to install unverified apps on work devices.
On the other hand, Barlow believes that “although Apple’s innovations are a timely step against a growing and organized cybercrime and is aimed at overall improvement of mobile security, the company must remember the reason for the spread of BYOD — convenience for the users”.
With this in mind, Barlow called the new six-digit passwords Apple “perfect example” of how to better protect corporate and personal data without compromising users, a simple variant of the authentication fingerprint.
While Barlow believes that there is still a lot of work. “The password is the first line of defense, which is only one link in the security mechanism, he says. — Security services should now focus on strengthening comprehensive protection mechanisms, such as enhanced authentication to access applications and data; this will allow us to defend against the growing threats of simple and effective ways”.
Charles king, principal analyst at Pund-IT, believes that the proposed IBM MobileFirst apps for iOS show how seriously Apple and IBM cooperate, although cooperation between these two companies could someone be a little surprised. Now obviously IBM is the chosen path steadily, covering one industry after another, solving specific industry challenges and increasing the efficiency of business processes through mobility and advanced Analytics.
