Posted on 03/08/2017 8:20:08 AM PST by Swordmaker
Wikileaks today published a trove of documents, allegedly taken from the CIA, that detail the government’s efforts to hack popular devices like iPhones, Android phones, and Samsung smart TVs. But Apple is pushing back against claims that the CIA’s hoarded vulnerabilities for its devices were effective.
The documents, if they are indeed legitimate, include charts that detail iOS exploits that would allow the CIA to surveil iPhone users and, in some cases, control their devices. Some of the exploits may have been developed in-house, while others appear to have been purchased, copied or downloaded from non-governmental sources.
However, Apple says that many of the iOS exploits in the Wikileaks dump have already been patched and it is working to address any new vulnerabilities.
“Apple is deeply committed to safeguarding our customers’ privacy and security. The technology built into today’s iPhone represents the best data security available to consumers, and we’re constantly working to keep it that way. Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates into the hands of our customers, with nearly 80 percent of users running the latest version of our operating system. While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities. We always urge customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security updates,” an Apple spokesperson said in a statement to TechCrunch.
The Wikileaks documents also contain exploits designed for Android. A Google spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
This isn’t the first time the CIA has targeted mobile phone manufacturers in an effort to spy on certain customers — the Intercept reported in 2015 that the agency had worked to compromise iPhones and iPads.
If you’re concerned about the security of your device, it’s always a good idea to keep your software up-to-date.
Nothing to see here folks, you’re safe.
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Key word: “most”
Define ‘most’........................
50.00001% of them. =)
Is it time for Congress to open an investigation and start bringing intelligence officials to testify under oath?
"National security" like hell. When our own government is sabotaging (there is no other word for it) technology at the source so that they can tap into the cameras and microphones on smartphones and tablets and even television sets and game consoles, they have gone way WAY too far.
This needs to go on record.
Safer than any other platform I’m aware of, short of can-and-string.
Proof?
“Nothing to see here folks, you’re safe.”
Rush Limbaugh will confirm that.
It took the government six months to unlock a three year old iPhone 5c using an older version of iOS in the San Bernardino terrorist case just last year. A lot of what was revealed was older vulnerabilities for a lot of old iPhones and old versions of iOS. It's not for up-to-date versions.
It’s always the one you don’t see coming that gets you.
yeah sure- as safe as we thought we were before it was revealed that we’re not actually safe-
The government had whole divisions set up to hack citizen’s devices and create malware to exploit vulnerabilities- it was a massive effort to spy on Americans- They aren;t about to give that up now- They will simply find more ways to do it-
Convenience has it’s price.
Cell phone security is a real problem but Apple really is farther along than most others.
In fact, that's why it was so hard to get at the information from the iPhone owned by the San Bernardino shooter--it took some very expensive and specialize equipment just to break the full-device encryption, and even then not all the data was recovered.
If you're using the can-and-string outdoors, a laser focused on the string will be able to tap your conversations. /j
the constitution has it’s rules
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