Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2012/08/08/apple_users_report_itunes_freeze/
Hiccups in Apple's iCloud after yesterday's hack of hapless hack
Apple users report app download freeze
Posted in Software, 8th August 2012 18:33 GMT
Users of Apple's iTunes and other cloud services reported a number of hiccups in normal service this morning, a day after an iCloud account hack on hapless WiReD journo Matt Honan made headlines.
Honan's account was accessed by hacker Phobia – who pried it open by going from call centre operator to call centre operator, starting out at Amazon customer support before moving onto Apple's account hotline – and then wiped Honan's iPhone, iPad and MacBook via iCloud.
Users reported being unable to download apps or songs from iTunes for up to six hours, and others trying to change their passwords or account details were unable to do so. Apple had told users it was reviewing its processes for password resets in the wake of the hack, and tech sites including that of the hapless hacked hack – WiReD – were reporting that all password changes for any iCloud service were being frozen, though tight-lipped Apple naturally didn't comment.
One Brit user told The Reg he was unable to download any applications or songs to his iPhone between 8am and 2pm today. Upgrades didn't work either. The problem came at the authentication/payment stage, and he got the same error message for six hours:
Your account is temporarily unavailable. The Store is unable to access your account information. You may continue to browse the Store. Please try again in a few minutes.
A forum in the Apple support boards suggests that other users also had problems downloading and upgrading apps.
The first poster eightbitsoul reported the problem while trying to upgrade some apps, receiving the same "Your account is temporarily unavailable message".
I've logged out and back in successfully and I can see my account information fine, so I wonder why "The Store" is unable to access it.
Several report that the problem is patchy - blocking them downloading apps on one iOS device, but allowing them to do so using the same iTunes account on another.
For our reader the app download problem has been resolved, but punters on the forums are reporting ongoing issues at time of writing. Jcadamsjc from New York said at 16.20 UK time (11.20 Eastern) that his iTunes account seemed to have blocked access to his card.
We cannot verify whether the app download freeze is connected to security tweaks at Apple or not. Apple has so far not answered to our question, but have promised to update us when the situation has been clarified.
WiReD has linked some of the iTunes choke-ups to a hack attack against one of its journalists that happened on Monday. ®