This is probably the scariest iPhone hack ever

Most smartphone hacks these days, even the most dangerous ones, require some sort of user interaction — tapping on a link, opening a message, installing an app — for the hacker to gain control of the device. 

But a particularly nasty iPhone exploit (via Ars Technica) allowed for an attacker to instantly take over someone's iPhone from a distance, without the need for any user interaction. It's really as scary as it sounds: Just look at the video of it in action, below. 

The exploit was found by security researcher Ian Beer, who works at Google's Project Zero team. It involves a vulnerability in AWDL, Apple's protocol that allows iPhones, Macs, and other devices to create peer-to-peer mesh networks, which enable features such as AirDrop and AirPlay.  Read more...