No, An iPhone Isn't Designed For Enterprise Security; Did Anyone Claim It Was?

from the didn't-think-so dept

Wed, Jun 20th 2007 7:05pm — Mike Masnick

Remember all those analyst reports warning about how dangerous iPods were in enterprise settings? Apparently, those were so successful that analyst firms are shoving each other aside to make the same claims about the upcoming launch of the iPhone. Some are worried that executives will buy iPhones because they'll be a status symbol, but the lack of enterprise security will make them a prime target for hackers, while others are complaining about the general lack of enterprise-ready security. The thing is, no one has claimed that the iPhone is an enterprise device. And, as for the security risks, they're about the same as any other portable storage device, which is hardly a new phenomenon. However, putting out a warning about the iPhone is the type of thing that attracts press coverage, so it's not too surprising to see analyst firms rush into it.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

29 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

ASDF, 20 Jun 2007 @ 7:46pm

Pretty Dumb
The iPhone was designed to be a status symbol. Just as Techdirt says.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- coolfactor, 20 Jun 2007 @ 8:03pm
  
  Re: Pretty Dumb
  A status symbol? Give it up. You obviously don't understand Apple's design philosophy. They create "relief" products. Relief from headaches and frustration. Pure enjoyment. They have status as a result.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2007 @ 10:17pm
    
    Re: Re: Pretty Dumb
    Speaking as someone that has had several apple products crap out on him -more- often then his winXP rig...
    *bops you on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper*
    Bad dog. Bad bad corporate puppy.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2007 @ 6:01am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Pretty Dumb
      There are people all over who claim "my apple stuff craps out more then my windows stuff" and just as well, there are plenty of people who say the reverse.
      
      When will people just put it together that each system has pros and cons and neither are better then the other? They have different markets. Some people enjoy apple more than windows. Some enjoy ms products more than apple.
      
      Why is it when one sides with another, they're automatically a "bad dog"?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - iVet, 21 Jun 2007 @ 7:09am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Pretty Dumb
      "Speaking as someone that has had several apple products crap out on him -more- often then his winXP rig...
      *bops you on the nose with a rolled-up newspaper*
      Bad dog. Bad bad corporate puppy."
      
      Dude, Your the one who sounds like a corporate MicroSoft shill! Pointing out the superiority of your awesome "winXP rig" Bad dog! *inserts needle, squeezes plunger* Sleepy dog, sleeeppyyy dooog, it will all be over real soon.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
TriZz, 20 Jun 2007 @ 7:52pm

Not just one...
...but two! iPhone stories in one day. Is someone reaching for ratings...?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Yyan, 20 Jun 2007 @ 8:33pm

Yeah its a status symbol
Anything like the iPod iPhone etc is basically a status symbol. Ipods are some of the worst functional MP3 players I've ever seen, they lack anything interesting, and lock you in to purchasing music and using iTunes. The entire product line is crap.

I owned a 30 dollar Sandisk MP3 player that worked way better than an iPod, at a 3rd of the cost.

Kids want iPods, and Razrs, because they are cool. Thats it, just cool. Anyone with a bit of common sense can look at almost any other MP3 device and realize it has much more functionality per cost value.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- His Shadow, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:23am
  
  Re: Yeah its a status symbol
  Yeah, and you are half wit. Worst functional? What the hell is wrong with some of you people? You hate Apple. Yay! You have meaning in your life. Yay! But guess what? Apple wins design awards across it's entire product line while the 20 dollar cheapo players and disposable laptops you sing the praises of are destined for complete and utter obscurity.
  
  Face it. When they were the underdog, it made you cool to slag Apple because their market share was supposedly some indication of Apple's worth, almost everybody agreed and you could pretend your comments were insightful. Now that they are kicking the crap out of other consumer design companies, their stock just keeps going up and they are poised to rewrite the history of cellphones, we have to put up with you hyperbolic mouth breathers ranting and slagging products you never have and never will own and blithering about "status symbols". Make up your minds. Does Apple not matter or does it matter so much you have to go out of your way to whine about it?
  
  You don't like Apple and you can't afford their products. That's too bad. Stand inline for your SanDisk and free (as in crap) cell phone, and leave the rest of us alone.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- SailorRipley, 21 Jun 2007 @ 11:36am
  
  Re: Yeah its a status symbol
  Kids want...because they are cool
  
  Well duh, thank you for kicking in that open door...newsflash: that's EVERY industry/company's (that wants to sell a product to/for kids) strategy!!! (e.g. replace iPod iPhone with BMX or Atari and you'd feel like you're back in the 80's)
  
  so really, thanks for pointing out something the rest of us already know: kids don't make choices based on what is most cost-effective, efficient/effective, robust,... They want what is cool, what their friends don't have (or already have, but want it better/bigger), what gives them status
  
  As for your functional claims...
  
  I've said it before and I'll say it again: I am not an Apple fan-boy.
  
  However, I am on my second iPod now (first one was replaced because it melted in a house fire, and no, for the petty minded, the iPod didn't cause the fire). I've had the first one for more than 3 years, the second one I have for a little over a year now, and have encountered not one single problem with either. Saying you've had bad experiences with brand X and such good experience with brand Y is useless and only dumb people will think it enforces the point you're trying to make.
  Oh, and for the most part, I don't use iTunes.
  And the locking in to purchasing music is pretty pathetic too, since Apple is far from the only one doing that, or are you conveniently overlooking that?
  
  Oh, and as for my reason to buy an iPod and not a "cheap" whatever: it's a quality product and compared to any competitor, has much more storage per cost value.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Asa Taylor, 20 Jun 2007 @ 8:47pm

and lock you in to purchasing music and using iTunes.

That's odd. I've had one for years and its never forced me to buy anything from its store. And you can use it with any media player. Itunes just comes with it.

The SanDisk is a phenomenal flash player (which I'll be looking at when my iPod passes on), but please don't lie about the competition. It makes your point of view come off as un-researched hyperbole, and makes Apple look better.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Jun 2007 @ 8:54pm

They are horrible. They use a proprietary connection and a limited, uninspirational interface. They also obviously biased to Apple proprietary formats. Not to mention the shitty stock hearphones. They also store music in a very unfriendly manner. For the same price I can get a Clix 2 up to 8GB soon and play flash, radio, custom interface, voice/line recorder, text reader, picture viewer, music player, and video player all with a longer battery life. Not to mention a more intuitive button and user interface. And iDon't give a crap if you don't think it's a status symbol or a trend/fad. When you have 50 bazillion cheap accessories all named iShit, you've pretty succeeded in selling your name on any quality device you choose.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- His Shadow, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:10am
  
  So Sad
  Anyone who can't figure out the Clickwheel in about 5 seconds is a moron, and should not be allowed around digital devices. Seriously. And this other BS about "features" that people claim the iPod does not have... guess what?
  
  Nobody fscking cares. The sales number alone bear this out.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- His Shadow, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:31am
  
  You Have Just Described...
  ...everything Microsoft ever did. Congratulations. They are horrible. They use a proprietary connection and a limited, uninspirational interface. They also obviously biased to Apple proprietary formats By Odin, where to start. Let's go with the duck. Proprietary formats? Like the MP3? These people should be in jail! What a terrible injustice! What? I'm not taking you seriously? That would be because your comments are idiotic on their face. Microsoft has made everyday computing a misery for the average user but Apple is horrible because their player, in addition to making sure that the MP3 was not "disappeared" by Microsoft, is also set up to play a higher quality open standard format? The shame!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
kickURass, 20 Jun 2007 @ 9:42pm

It isn't suprising this thread would attract apple-bashing fanbois who can't stay on subject. Here is a discussion about enterprise level security on phones especially the iphone but of course we all want to here why YOU think the ipod sucks. BTW, ipods are the most common type of mp3 players by a long shot, some selling for as little as $59. I got mine free as student for buying a $699 macbook. They are hardly a "staus symbol" if everybody has one.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
LogicFanboi, 20 Jun 2007 @ 9:51pm

Tuck it back in, tarzan
Will you Apple butkissers please not go all crazy every time a story comes out that might possibly be construed to be even in the least bit critical of iAnything? It's no big deal: A story comes out that says you might not want to buy 1000 iPhones and try to integrate them into your corporate network. So friggin' what?
I can understand reading this kind of tantrum in comments, but this time the Techdirt editors themselves are doing it. It's unseemly. Journalism is supposed to be critical, OK? If you want to create an iPhone fan site, go ahead, but people come here to see at least something a little bit similar to journalism. If we have to sift through the flag-waving, it makes Techdirt somewhat less useful to professionals.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Mike (profile), 21 Jun 2007 @ 1:57am
  
  Re: Tuck it back in, tarzan
  Will you Apple butkissers please not go all crazy every time a story comes out that might possibly be construed to be even in the least bit critical of iAnything?
  
  Now there's an odd statement. I'm not pro-Apple at all (I don't have a mac or an iPod and I have no intention of getting an iPhone). This story wasn't pro-Apple at all. It was simply pointing out how silly all these reports are. Not sure why you'd read it as pro-Apple. It was neither pro nor anti-Apple.
  
  We're not pro or anti any particular company. We simply call what we see. I'm not sure how that makes us *less* professional.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2007 @ 5:58am
  
  Re: Tuck it back in, tarzan
  Mike didn't go all crazy. In fact, he said he didn't see a problem with a lack of enterprise security. He said it seemed pointless to point out the lack of a feature that it never claimed to have NOR was ever designed to include.
  
  Every comment after that was bashing Apple. Illogically as well. The iPod interface is easy and simple to use. They have a large selection of music to purchase. And now they have iTunes Plus.
  
  I'm not saying its the best thing ever nor am I saying its priced as it should be BUT I am saying it is *not* poorly designed in any way at all.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- His Shadow, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:41am
  
  Re: Tuck it back in, tarzan
  Would you stop pretending that the Apple supporters started this stuff? Microsoft's Stockholm Syndromed drones have attacked Apple at every turn for going on 25 years and have been wrong almost every single time! What have the Apple bashers learned in that time? Apple bashing gets web traffic. That's it.
  
  Not that I am accusing TechDirt of anything like that, because they are very even handed on everything.
  But you, LogicFanboi? Here is your sign, stupid. You started your reply before even reading the comments section. Or did you not notice that the first post slagged the iPod (offtopic) and subsequent posts dismissed the iPhone as a "status symbol" (flamebait). There in fact have been no posts regarding the actual point of the article, which is that the mindless drones are wailing about a product being a threat when not a single one of them has had the chance to touch it, much less assess it's impact on corporate security.
  So next time, wait a few minutes and read the posts before you posts your witless attacks.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
General Eskimo, 20 Jun 2007 @ 11:14pm

Well... remember, people are stupid
You must remember; most people like to think that security isn't a problem. So, if you don't explicitly tell them its a problem, they assume that all is safe on the home front.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 21 Jun 2007 @ 6:03am
  
  Re: Well... remember, people are stupid
  this is true. But I think it comes down to it being that it shouldn't be shed in a negative light. It should just be pointed out that it lacks enterprise security and to keep that in mind when purchasing a phone.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dick Steel, 21 Jun 2007 @ 7:02am

The article was a good one that pointed out some stupid comments made by anti-apple MS goons in IT departments. Their useless arguments make no sense to anyone with more than one brain cell. What they say about iphones is true of pretty much any phone their corporate bosses choose to use.

But, it is no wonder this article got a bunch of comments from anti-apple MS goon wannabees. Their arguments, as we can all see above, are equally useful.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Rob, 21 Jun 2007 @ 7:06am

iPhone
As a owner of several Treos, and in business, I am interested in the iPhone. I have tried the RIM products that are all the craze of the suited crowd and just don't see the attraction. If I, as the CEO need to have all my employees on the leash that is push email I guess it is the way to go as it has the extra layer of security and all. But I agree with the author here in that Apple has never targeted this market with any of thier products that I can remember. As a trader, I see this as what it is.... a leaked non story intended to have a negative impact to allow some trader somewhere an opportunity to buy AAPL prior to the iPhone launch. As for the transparent comments here bashing iProducts I can only see it for what it is, Ignorance bordering stupidity.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Sanguine Dream, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:46am

It doesn't matter to me...
I live in an area where AT&T/Cingular does not exist so I have to wait until the exclusive period on the iPhone runs out to even have the chance to buy one. And by the way how long is that exclusivity going to last? I've heard 3yr. and I've heard 5yr.

And as for the Apple argument that is about to take center stage here I don't care what name is on the product as long as it works properly and I feel comfortable with it. I went to different stores and handled different mp3 players for about a year and frankly the iPods just did not feel right in my hands. Neither did the Zune. Even the Arcos units felt odd. So in the end I went with Creative. Right now I have the V Plus and I like it alot.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Sanguine Dream, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:46am

It doesn't matter to me...
I live in an area where AT&T/Cingular does not exist so I have to wait until the exclusive period on the iPhone runs out to even have the chance to buy one. And by the way how long is that exclusivity going to last? I've heard 3yr. and I've heard 5yr.

And as for the Apple argument that is about to take center stage here I don't care what name is on the product as long as it works properly and I feel comfortable with it. I went to different stores and handled different mp3 players for about a year and frankly the iPods just did not feel right in my hands. Neither did the Zune. Even the Arcos units felt odd. So in the end I went with Creative. Right now I have the V Plus and I like it alot.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Clueby4, 21 Jun 2007 @ 2:00pm

Apple is a status symbol only. Silly fanboys
Deny all you want but Apple is just a status symbol. And with regard to quality WTF are you smoking, nice scratched up ipod you got there, obtw can you replace the battery?

Apple users are a lot like SUV owners, with regard to the hollow and dubious rationalizations they come with in order to avoid acknowledging that they based their buying decision on emotional rather then rational reasons

@His Shadow.
"rewrite the history of cellphones"

I think you may have something on your nose there.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- His Shadow, 21 Jun 2007 @ 10:08pm
  
  Re: Apple is a status symbol only. Silly fanboys
  Speaking of hollow, you spewing retard, you can replace your ipod battery, and anything that has a screen gets scratched by normal use. If Apple computers are a status symbol, then why are they so prevalent in web development, science and education?
  
  Get bent.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cleverboy, 24 Jun 2007 @ 2:39am

I'm just tired...
I barely want to comment. Only several posts in, and someone is shouting that this is a pro-Apple propaganda piece. Yawn. I'm disgusted with the flaming. I think its a legitimate "weird issue" that someone felt the need to target both iPods and iPhones as "security problems". the iPhone before its even released. The iPod is about as much a security problem as a USB thumb-drive, and should be handled appropriately. From my understanding the iPhone doesn't even do THAT. The security "concerns" are all about what needs to be done to simply support them on their proprietary Microsoft dominated network. I agree with assertions that Microsoft is only popular because it strives to eliminate choice. I scratch my head that suddenly an Exchange web server with web access is seen as "insecure", simply because that's the way iPhone users could connect to it, y'know... over a secure connection and all. All the trolling aside, I just don't get it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Jackson123r, 24 Jun 2007 @ 10:25pm

60606
The PDA phones have been about along while now all with touchscreen tech. and each new one has improved sencitivity. I got no doubts that the iphone will let us down. Ive hear that there will be 5 colours aswell. Exciting stuff

http://www.pspconverter.com/iphone_converter/
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
desertkhaat, 21 Jan 2010 @ 4:39pm

This is funny. Reading the "extremists" on both ends of the spectrum. me? I love my macbook pro & my cowon mp3 player. I went out & got the items i thought were best for my use. That's it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]