If you have jailbroken your iPhone or iTouch you may want to think about changing the devices default root password. There is new worm going around that only affects jailbroken iPhones and iTouches that have SSH server installed and running. The worm will search networks for the open iPhone SSH servers running and connect to them as root. All iPhones/iTouches have the same root password, alpine, which makes this worm possible. Once the worm connects it doesn’t do anything too harmful, just changes your background to a picture of Rick Astley, also disables the SSH server and then looks for other devices to infect.
Here is a step by step guide on how to change the default root password.
Step 1: Download the Terminal application from Cyndia.
Step 2: Once downloaded start the application and type the following commands. Remember that the root password is ‘alpine’.
motersho-iPhone:~mobile$ su Password: motersho-iPhone:~root# passwd New Password: [type in a new password] Retype new password: [retype the password] motersho-iPhone:~root#
That’s it. You are now secure. Plus I have a feeling this will help keep Apple out of your phone.
Keep this in mind, if you upgrade to the next iPhone firmware you may have to redo this.