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Apple warns developers to use legit copies of Xcode only following Xcodeghost malware fiasco
Apple has taken further steps to defend itself against malicious actors targeting iOS apps by reminding developers to use legitimate copies of its development tool Xcode.
According to reports, Apple sent a letter out to its registered developers urging them to validate their version of Xcode and ensure they only download new versions from Apple.
We recently removed apps from the App Store that were built with a counterfeit version of Xcode which had the potential to cause harm to customers. You should always download Xcode directly from the Mac App Store, or from the Apple Developer website, and leave Gatekeeper enabled on all your systems to protect against tampered software.
When you download Xcode from the Mac App Store, OS X automatically checks the code signature for Xcode and validates that it is code signed by Apple. When you download Xcode from the Apple Developer website, the code signature is also automatically checked and validated by default as long as you have not disabled Gatekeeper.
Whether you downloaded Xcode from Apple or received Xcode from another source, such as a USB or Thunderbolt disk, or over a local network, you can easily verify the integrity of your copy of Xcode.
Along with the letter, Apple also posted the same message to its developers website, along with additional information as to how to confirm they are using a valid copy of the software.
The move from the tech giant follows the fiasco where a range of apps, including popular ones such as WeChat, were injected with the “Xcodeghost” malware which potentially put users at risk of having their phones hijacked, let alone accounts compromised.
In related news, Apple said separately Tuesday that they would also address the underlying problem that caused a non-authorised version of Xcode to circulate: that Chinese developers had problems with trying to download it.
According to Reuters Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller told Chinese news site Sina.com that it will offer domestic downloads within China of its software for developing apps; previously Chinese developers had to download Xcode from overseas sites.
A time frame for when Apple would be providing local downloads within China was not disclosed.
Image credit: 8136496@N05/Flickr/CC by 2.0
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