Ride the Lightning
Cybersecurity and Future of Law Practice Blog
by Sharon D. Nelson Esq., President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc.
ABA Journal to Feature Article on iPhone Security
December 18, 2009
How do we know? We were interviewed yesterday for this story – clearly our recent posts on this subject have attracted some attention.
Predictably, there were iPhone adherents who didn't want to hear about the documented problems with the iPhone's security, but most of those who wrote (and our Inbox was full) were curious. Some thought they had workarounds of one kind or another, but they were finally persuaded that the iPhone is inherently insecure.
Without any doubt, there has now been enough publicity that Apple will see the wisdom of fixing this issue the next time around, but for now, we stand by our recommendation to law firms and corporations that they avoid having iPhones connect to their networks until the problem is resolved.
As we told the reporter yesterday, if a single iPhone is compromised, it could subject a law firm not only to potential malpractice claims for failing to take reasonable steps to protect client data but (gulp) data breach laws. Imagine having to contact all law firm clients to notify them that the firm had suffered a data breach. A PR nightmare, to say the least.
As an aside, the law firm which is banning the iPhone consented yesterday to speak with the ABA Journal reporter, so I can now identify the firm as the Strong & Hanni Law Firm, which is located in Utah. We have been advised privately that a major corporation has also taken this step and we are trying to secure consent to identify it publicly. Stay tuned.
Listen to the Podcast
