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Apple just relieved a big security headache for work iPhones

Nine out of ten companies require "simple" four-digit passcodes. But Apple just changed the default, nudging a lot more companies to bolster their security
Written by Zack Whittaker, Contributor
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Apple's default passcode is now two digits longer.
(Image: ZDNet/CBS Interactive)

There are now 990,000 reasons to upgrade to iOS 9.

Apple's new mobile operating system for iPhones and iPads comes with an improved security feature: two extra digits to the user's passcode, by default. That may not seem like a big deal, but a longer passcode means it's tougher to crack.

So much so is that the number of combinations from the old four-digit code to the new six-digit code jumps from 10,000 to 1 million possible tries.

And it can't come a moment sooner for some companies, who are already on thin ice when it comes to corporate security.

New research by IBM into one million bring-your-own-device and corporate-issued devices showed how dire the situation is. Nearly 90 percent of companies only require a simple, numeric passcode, with 80 percent of those companies requiring a four-digit passcode, which in some cases can be cracked in under 20 minutes.

A six-digit passcode combination will push the brute-force attack possibility into the days range.

iOS 9 is available on September 16, as a free download.

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