A quirk in how iOS handles the iPad 2's Smart Cover makes it possible for others to access password-protected iPads sans passcode. Apple’s Smart Covers are pretty cool–they attach magnetically to your iPad 2, and you can lock your iPad’s screen simply by “closing” the cover. Lift the cover off the screen, and your iPad wakes right up. Unfortunately, members of the German forum Apfeltalk (“Apple Talk”) discovered a bug in how iOS handles the Smart Cover that makes it possible to bypass the iPad’s passcode screen. Yikes.To trigger this glitch, hold down the power button and wait for the iPad to ask to power off. When that happens, place the smart cover over the tablet. Next, take the cover off again, cancel the power down, and you’re in–no passcode required.The bug generally seems to affect iPads running iOS 5, but 9to5Mac has also discovered that the issue is present on some that are still running iOS 4.3.It’s bad news, but it could be worse: While someone may be able to get onto your iPad using this trick, they’ll only be able to get at whatever app you happen to have open. And if you left off at the homescreen, anyone who triggers this glitch won’t be able to open anything; they’ll only be able to see what apps you installed (although they can be rearranged or deleted if a prankster so desires). Spotlight is also fully functional. Luckily, Apple is aware of the issue and is working on a fix. And for the time being, you can make it so your iPad doesn’t automatically unlock when you open your Smart Cover; that way, even if someone uses this bypass trick, they’ll only be greeted with the passcode screen. To change this setting, Open the Settings app, tap General, and change the setting for “iPad Cover Lock/Unlock” to “Off”.Check out 9to5Mac’s video explaining the issue. [Apple Talk via 9to5Mac]More stories like this…iTar Turns Your iPad Into an Instrument, Invites You to Start StrummingOmniTouch Turns Everything Into a TouchscreeniOS 5 Jailbreak Is Already Here; Geeks Not SurprisedGet your GeekTech on: Twitter – Facebook – RSS | Tip us off Related content feature Cybersecurity startups to watch for in 2023 These startups are jumping in where most established security vendors have yet to go. By CSO Staff Sep 29, 2023 19 mins CSO and CISO CSO and CISO C-Suite news analysis Companies are already feeling the pressure from upcoming US SEC cyber rules New Securities and Exchange Commission cyber incident reporting rules don't kick in until December, but experts say they highlight the need for greater collaboration between CISOs and the C-suite By Cynthia Brumfield Sep 28, 2023 6 mins Regulation Data Breach Financial Services Industry news UK data regulator warns that data breaches put abuse victims’ lives at risk The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has reprimanded seven organizations in the past 14 months for data breaches affecting victims of domestic abuse. By Michael Hill Sep 28, 2023 3 mins Electronic Health Records Data Breach Government news EchoMark releases watermarking solution to secure private communications, detect insider threats Enterprise-grade software embeds AI-driven, forensic watermarking in emails and documents to pinpoint potential insider risks By Michael Hill Sep 28, 2023 4 mins Communications Security Threat and Vulnerability Management Security Software Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe