Apple has issued a software patch to fix some security holes that independent security researchers recently discovered for the company's iPhone.
The software update addresses several bugs and security issues, but most notably a flaw that could have allowed hackers to take control of the multimedia cell phone to spread spam or steal data if its owner was to visit a doctored website or Internet Wi-Fi hotspot.
There were no reports of criminals taking advantage of the glitch.
Nonetheless, such findings - and their subsequent patches - often help to make it more difficult for malicious attacks on computers and other gizmos like the iPhone, which connect to computers or the Internet.
The much-hyped iPhone - a combination cell phone, iPod player and wireless Web gadget - quickly became a popular research target after its June 29th launch.
Its first software update came just two days before analysts at Independent Security Evaluators were set to discuss the iPhone's hijacking hole at a hackers convention in Las Vegas.