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Siri Can Make Calls from a Locked iPhone (By Design)

Friday October 14, 2011 8:01 am PDT by Arnold Kim
Weng Chin points out something he describes as a security flaw in the iPhone 4S with Siri. In this video, Chin demonstrates that a user can make phone calls from the iPhone 4S even while it is protected by the iPhone:


At 1 minute and 5 seconds in the video, Chin shows using Siri to make a phone call despite the iPhone 4S being locked. This seems to be by design, however.

Having Siri enabled while your phone is locked allows for you to continue to have hands free usage of your phone, even when in a locked state. Apple does offer you the ability to turn Siri off on the Lock Screen, if you prefer more security over convenience. In previous iPhones without Siri, users could similarly dial arbitrary numbers using Voice Dial even when the iPhone was locked. Apple similarly offered an option for Voice Dial to be turned off on the Lock Screen only.
[ 31 comments ]

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bryanjc
Posted: 19 weeks ago
WRONG.

There is an option to switch this off.

Under Passcode lock ''Do not allow access to Siri when locked with a passcode'.

You obviously have that option selected.
Rating: 17 Positives / 1 Negatives
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hobo.hopkins
Posted: 19 weeks ago
I think people should be a little more careful before labelling something a "flaw".
Rating: 13 Positives / 0 Negatives
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sideburn
Posted: 19 weeks ago

WRONG.

There is an option to switch this off.

Under Passcode lock ''Do not allow access to Siri when locked with a passcode'.

You obviously have that option selected.


LOL, they went to all that trouble to create a video when it's obvious you can toggle this feature on and off... :D
Rating: 10 Positives / 0 Negatives
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NAG
Posted: 19 weeks ago
And here starts the search for the next Apple-Gate. Will they unlock the eighth chevron and where will it lead?!
Rating: 9 Positives / 0 Negatives
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toddybody
Posted: 19 weeks ago
As they point out, you can disable Siri functionality while locked...so, how is this a security issue?
Rating: 5 Positives / 0 Negatives
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tigres
Posted: 19 weeks ago
It was this way with Voice dial as well. it should work this way, always.
who cares; what are they going to do- call mom?
Rating: 5 Positives / 1 Negatives
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mingoglia
Posted: 19 weeks ago

As they point out, you can disable Siri functionality while locked...so, how is this a security issue?


It seems like everyone these days is in a rat race to get videos online. The phone wasn't his and he obviously spent limited time on it. If someone posts a video they're automatically an "expert" but it's obvious to me he probably only spent minutes with the device before joining the rat race and wasn't aware this is a convenience function that can be turned off and not a flaw.
Rating: 4 Positives / 1 Negatives
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goofy1958
Posted: 19 weeks ago
Yup, that even works on my old 3GS! Silly people who don't read the book.
Rating: 3 Positives / 0 Negatives
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Laird Knox
Posted: 19 weeks ago

We have to stop this "this-gate that-gate" trend. What are we gonna call it when Bill Gates gets involved in a scandal? "Gatesgate?" :D


Unfortunately the scandal involved the gate to his front yard and it became known as Gatesgategate. :p
Rating: 4 Positives / 2 Negatives
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fabianjj
Posted: 19 weeks ago
Why is this news? My iPhone 4 did this out of the box, although I do not recall whether or not there was an option to turn off that specifically on iOS 4.x
Rating: 3 Positives / 1 Negatives

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