iOS 5 update closes Smart Cover unlock loophole

Along with fixing battery issues, Apple’s upcoming iOS 5 update should plug the recently-discovered iPad Smart Cover security hole, according to 9to5mac. This flaw allows a user to bypass an iPad 2’s security code with a smart cover attached — you just open the cover, hold down the power button until the power off dialogue appears, close the cover, and cancel the power down request. At that point, the iPad is unlocked, but you could only view whatever app the device had in the foreground before it was locked. If the iPad was locked on the homescreen, apps can be deleted or rearranged, and Spotlight is accessible, but you can’t actually launch anything. Overall, this is a fairly minor bug, but it’ll still be good to see this security hole closed when iOS 5.0.1 rolls out in a few weeks. In the meantime, you can just turn off Smart Cover unlock in your iPad’s settings app.