A new malware that affects iPhones and iPads, dubbed as KeyRaider, was discovered by researchers at Welptech and Palo Alto Networks. According to their blog post last Sunday, they were able to uncover a database of Apple accounts stolen through malware distributed through repositories (located in China) and used by the popular jailbreak tool, Cydia.

The malware works by tapping into the device's operating system through the sending and receiving of iTunes traffic. The malware steals the client's username and password along with its unique device identifiers.  According to a report by International Business Times, jailbroken devices located in at least 14 countries may be affected.

The malware can be used not just to steal your information, it can also lock the device so it can be held for ransom. There are worse things than having apps charged to your account without your permission. Palo Alto has already shared the list of stolen Apple accounts with the company, but Apple has yet to comment on the issue.

Fortunately, this malicious attack does not affect stock iPhones and iPads. It is conceivable that this discovery may have come too late, as jailbreaking tools have been around since the iPhone became available in 2007. The immediate fix is to restore your phone to stock iOS, which does not come easy for some users.

Jailbreaking becomes a necessity as it allows customization that is simply impossible with Apple's rigid security protocols. One example is unlocking carrier specific devices which allows you to use the device for multiple carriers (mobile service providers). Most commonly, jailbreaking is used to add apps to the device that would otherwise be unavailable to stock iPhones or iPads.

In any case, safety should be the paramount concern and jailbroken iPhone and iPad owners should definitely consider restoring their devices. Jailbreaking is not considered illegal in most countries, but it is, however, an unspoken rule that jailbroken devices don't get any tech support from certified Apple stores.