Apple's iOS 9 May Cut Off Mobile Employees From a Corporate VPN

Apple has made significant strides in getting some of its mobile devices adopted by large enterprises, but a problem in iOS 9 could cause issues for information workers who want to access their corporate network via a virtual private network (VPN).

Cisco posted a Facebook alert about the flaw, which remains in the most current version of iOS 9 and involves a malfunction in the Tunnel All DNS option in Cisco’s AnyConnect VPN product. It means remote workers may not be able to access some servers, although not necessarily all of them.

The iOS 9 bug is not limited to Cisco AnyConnect but potentially affects many similar products, as well, according to InfoWorld. It’s an issue that could prove frustrating for iPhone or iPad users who decided to upgrade to Apple’s latest mobile OS early since they would now have to figure out a way to move back to iOS 8.4.1, which is immune to the VPN connectivity flaw.

ZDNet said the only option is for iOS 9 users to first ensure they have backed up their device using iTunes. Although some might have assumed iCloud would be the more logical tool for this task, iTunes has a restore feature that can essentially make it seem like the upgrade never happened — and, perhaps more importantly, get them the corporate access they need.

Ironically, Apple and others have been working hard to prove that iOS 9 is one of the most secure mobile platforms in the industry, FierceMobileIT pointed out. This includes the ability for IT administrators to push apps to employee devices without going through the App Store or relying on an Apple ID, and the ability to integrate with enterprise mobile management software. An inability to get into the corporate network via VPN, however, may have IT departments putting off upgrades until a newer iteration of the beta is available.

Softpedia said that the iOS 9 bug could have something to do with the way some companies set up a particular VPN. Over time, this flaw will no doubt be resolved by Apple, but it shows that companies moving to a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy may need to think through potential connectivity snags as they allow employees more choice over the kinds of technologies they use.

Shane Schick

Writer & Editor

Researchers develop malicious AI ‘worm’ targeting generative AI systems

2 min read - Researchers have created a new, never-seen-before kind of malware they call the "Morris II" worm, which uses popular AI services to spread itself, infect new systems and steal data. The name references the original Morris computer worm that wreaked havoc on the internet in 1988.The worm demonstrates the potential dangers of AI security threats and creates a new urgency around securing AI models.New worm utilizes adversarial self-replicating promptThe researchers from Cornell Tech, the Israel Institute of Technology and Intuit, used what’s…

Passwords, passkeys and familiarity bias

5 min read - As passkey (passwordless authentication) adoption proceeds, misconceptions abound. There appears to be a widespread impression that passkeys may be more convenient and less secure than passwords. The reality is that they are both more secure and more convenient — possibly a first in cybersecurity.Most of us could be forgiven for not realizing passwordless authentication is more secure than passwords. Thinking back to the first couple of use cases I was exposed to — a phone operating system (OS) and a…

DOD establishes Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy

2 min read - The federal government recently took a new step toward prioritizing cybersecurity and demonstrating its commitment to reducing risk. On March 20, 2024, the Pentagon formally established the new Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy to supervise cyber policy for the Department of Defense. The next day, President Joe Biden announced Michael Sulmeyer as his nominee for the role.“In standing up this office, the Department is giving cyber the focus and attention that Congress intended,” said Acting…

Security Intelligence

{{title}}

{{title}}

{{title}}

Topics

More from

Researchers develop malicious AI ‘worm’ targeting generative AI systems

Passwords, passkeys and familiarity bias

DOD establishes Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Policy

Topic updates