According to The Information, the company plans to stagger the launch of its new iPhone series to accommodate the debut of its first foldable iPhone.


Apple may flip the cell phone market with debut of foldable iPhone 18 in 2026: Report

The UK security officials have demanded <a href="https://www.wionews.com/tags/apple" rel="dofollow">Apple </a>to create a back door for them to spy on users' encrypted accounts and retrieve all content uploaded by the Apple user to the cloud, people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post.&nbsp;
The undisclosed order by the British government was issued last month and has no known precedent in major democracies. It requires the blanket capability to view fully encrypted material, not merely assistance in cracking a specific account.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/apple-suspends-new-ai-feature-that-was-criticised-for-making-mistakes-in-news-alerts-8630254" rel="dofollow">Apple suspends new AI feature that was criticised for making mistakes in news alerts</a>
Its applications would cause a major defeat for the tech companies in their decade-long history of battle, avoiding being considered as government tools against their users. People concerned with the matter said, on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;
Following this, the company is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in the UK, and will break the security promises it made to its users.&nbsp;
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/apple-condemns-eu-app-laws-as-first-porn-app-arrives-on-iphones-8690844" rel="dofollow">Apple condemns EU app laws as first porn app arrives on iPhones</a>
Reuters tried to get a comment on this from Apple, the iPhone maker company, but failed to get a response.
UK's office of the Home Secretary has served Apple with a document called a technical capability notice, ordering it to provide the access, according to The Washington Post.
"We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices," a Home Office spokesperson said.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/apple-to-pay-95-million-for-lawsuit-against-siri-for-listening-users-private-conversation-8588579" rel="dofollow">Apple to pay $95 million for lawsuit against Siri for listening user's private conversation</a>
Earlier in January, the UK used its regulatory powers to launch an investigation into Apple and Google's smartphone operating systems, app stores and browsers.&nbsp;
Last month, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing its digital assistant Siri of listening in on users&rsquo; private conversations. Talk captured by &ldquo;unintended Siri activation&rdquo; was obtained by Apple and perhaps even shared with third parties, according to the suit.&nbsp;
(With inputs from agencies)

World, Science & technology: The undisclosed order by the British government was issued last month and has no known precedent in major democracies. 

The UK security officials have demanded Apple to create a back door for them to spy on users' encrypted accounts and retrieve all content uploaded by the Apple user to the cloud, people familiar with the matter told The Washington Post. The undisclosed order by the British government was issued last month and has no known precedent in major democracies. It requires the blanket capability to view fully encrypted material, not merely assistance in cracking a specific account. Also read: Apple suspends new AI feature that was criticised for making mistakes in news alerts Its applications would cause a major defeat for the tech companies in their decade-long history of battle, avoiding being considered as government tools against their users. People concerned with the matter said, on condition of anonymity. Following this, the company is likely to stop offering encrypted storage in the UK, and will break the security promises it made to its users. Also read: Apple condemns EU app laws as first porn app arrives on iPhones Reuters tried to get a comment on this from Apple, the iPhone maker company, but failed to get a response. UK's office of the Home Secretary has served Apple with a document called a technical capability notice, ordering it to provide the access, according to The Washington Post. "We do not comment on operational matters, including for example confirming or denying the existence of any such notices," a Home Office spokesperson said. Also read: Apple to pay $95 million for lawsuit against Siri for listening user's private conversation Earlier in January, the UK used its regulatory powers to launch an investigation into Apple and Google's smartphone operating systems, app stores and browsers. Last month, Apple agreed to pay $95 million to settle a lawsuit accusing its digital assistant Siri of listening in on users’ private conversations. Talk captured by “unintended Siri activation” was obtained by Apple and perhaps even shared with third parties, according to the suit. (With inputs from agencies)

UK orders Apple to create back door for them to spy on users' encrypted accounts: Report

The iPhone vs Android discourse has been a source of heated debate across the globe. The discussion, however, may have come to a conclusion after a recent bizarre incident in the US state of Washington where&nbsp;thieves&nbsp;returned a phone they stole from a man because it was an Android, not an iPhone.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;ABC-affiliate&nbsp;KATV,&nbsp;the incident took place last month when the woman, who is not yet identified, told the publication that her husband insisted that he meet her outside their apartment in Northwest DC to park the car for her. The woman was returning home in the early morning hours after working.&nbsp;

However, as soon as the man parked the car, two masked&nbsp;thieves came up to him and robbed him. "They robbed him, took everything he had in his pockets, took the keys to my truck, got in and pulled off," the woman said.&nbsp;

Just when it looked certain that the thieves had caused significant financial damage to the couple, the two returned.&nbsp;While one of the robbers was in a BMW, the other approached the couple on foot at&nbsp;the 2400 block of 14th Street, NW.

"They basically looked at that phone and were like 'Oh, that's an Android? We don't want this. I thought it was an iPhone'," the woman added.

And although the encounter lasted a few seconds, it had a profound impact on the life of the couple who were not only mugged near their home but could have lost far more as both robbers were seemingly armed.

"That was my income," she said, referring to the car. "That was the way I made money. I did Uber Eats and Instacart so, that was our livelihood."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/android-devices-are-at-high-risk-of-hacking-625845">Watch |&nbsp;Android devices are at high risk of hacking</a>

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<h2>Do not fall victim to the streets</h2>

Bizarrely enough, the incident happened on the same day as when a public hearing was scheduled in DC on the surge in crime in the state.&nbsp;

DC Police Chief Pamela made bold claims saying crime was done in the city by projecting impressive numbers.&nbsp;

"Carjackings are down 7 per cent.&nbsp;Assault with a dangerous weapon is down 6 per cent&nbsp;and vehicle theft is down 11 per cent. Overall, indexed violent crime is down three crimes and robbery is up 14 crimes over the prior period in 2023," said Pamela.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/tata-to-manufacture-iphones-for-domestic-and-global-markets-in-india-651976">Also read |&nbsp;India's Tata group to manufacture iPhones for domestic and global markets</a>

However, the victims of the carjacking incident disagreed with Pamela, saying:&nbsp;"Yeah, those numbers are not adding up.&nbsp;We're seeing rapid numbers of carjackings every day. It's getting younger and younger."

The woman also advised those who robbed her husband saying they should not fall "victim to the streets".&nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The iPhone vs Android discourse has been a source of heated debate across the globe. The discussion, however, may have come to a conclusion after a recent bizarre incident in the US state of Washington where thieves returned a phone they stole from a man because it was an Android, not an iPhone.

The iPhone vs Android discourse has been a source of heated debate across the globe. The discussion, however, may have come to a conclusion after a recent bizarre incident in the US state of Washington where thieves returned a phone they stole from a man because it was an Android, not an iPhone. According to ABC-affiliate KATV, the incident took place last month when the woman, who is not yet identified, told the publication that her husband insisted that he meet her outside their apartment in Northwest DC to park the car for her. The woman was returning home in the early morning hours after working. However, as soon as the man parked the car, two masked thieves came up to him and robbed him. "They robbed him, took everything he had in his pockets, took the keys to my truck, got in and pulled off," the woman said. Just when it looked certain that the thieves had caused significant financial damage to the couple, the two returned. While one of the robbers was in a BMW, the other approached the couple on foot at the 2400 block of 14th Street, NW. "They basically looked at that phone and were like 'Oh, that's an Android? We don't want this. I thought it was an iPhone'," the woman added. And although the encounter lasted a few seconds, it had a profound impact on the life of the couple who were not only mugged near their home but could have lost far more as both robbers were seemingly armed. "That was my income," she said, referring to the car. "That was the way I made money. I did Uber Eats and Instacart so, that was our livelihood." Watch | Android devices are at high risk of hacking × Do not fall victim to the streets Bizarrely enough, the incident happened on the same day as when a public hearing was scheduled in DC on the surge in crime in the state. DC Police Chief Pamela made bold claims saying crime was done in the city by projecting impressive numbers. "Carjackings are down 7 per cent. Assault with a dangerous weapon is down 6 per cent and vehicle theft is down 11 per cent. Overall, indexed violent crime is down three crimes and robbery is up 14 crimes over the prior period in 2023," said Pamela. Also read | India's Tata group to manufacture iPhones for domestic and global markets However, the victims of the carjacking incident disagreed with Pamela, saying: "Yeah, those numbers are not adding up. We're seeing rapid numbers of carjackings every day. It's getting younger and younger." The woman also advised those who robbed her husband saying they should not fall "victim to the streets". (With inputs from agencies)

'No thanks': Thieves return stolen Android phone saying they wanted iPhone

Taiwanese tech giants Foxconn and Pegatron on Monday (Dec 4) halted production of Apple iPhones at their facilities&nbsp;near the south Indian city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, owing to the incessant rains in the region brought by Cyclone Michaung, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company is yet to take a call on whether to resume production on Tuesday (Dec 5). Foxconn employs as many as 35,000 people at its factory and the halt could have serious ramifications on the production of the iPhones.&nbsp;

This is the second time in recent months that Pegatron has had to bring shutters on production. In September, the Pegatron facility was shut for three days due to a fire accident.

Multiple reports at the time claimed that the fire was sparked by a short-circuit after an electrical switch was left on, following testing of the devices as they were being put together.&nbsp;

The models being assembled at Pegatron are Apple iPhone 14 Plus and 15 Plus. Considering the average cost of these models is around $1000, the impact of not operating for a day means that $20 million worth of phones are not produced.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pegatron-resumes-iphone-assembly-at-indian-factory-three-days-after-fire-640269">Also read |&nbsp;Pegatron resumes iPhone assembly at Indian factory, three days after fire</a>

<h2>Cyclone Michaung</h2>

Cyclone Michaung which emerged from the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is within touching distance of Chennai.&nbsp;

The extreme rainfall by Michaung has brought the city to a standstill. As of the last update, five were reported dead in rain-related incidents in the city.&nbsp;

According to the meteorological department, over the next 24 hours, the cyclone is expected to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cyclone-michaung-updates-red-alert-in-10-districts-evacuates-thousands-as-cyclone-michaung-nears-666052">Watch |&nbsp;India: Red alert in 10 districts, thousands evacuate as Cyclone Michaung nears</a>

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Dr Balachandran, head of the&nbsp;Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), informed WION that&nbsp;15 locations have recorded heavy rainfall, 59 locations have recorded very heavy rainfall and 21 locations have witnessed extremely heavy rains.

Wind speeds near the Chennai airport clocked 88 kmph, while the wind speeds at the core city area clocked 71 kmph.

Rescue and evacuation operations are underway at multiple localities in Chennai and adjoining districts, with the civic authorities

(With inputs from agencies)

Taiwanese tech giants Foxconn and Pegatron on Monday (Dec 4) halted production of Apple iPhones at their facilities near the south Indian city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, owing to the incessant rains in the region brought by Cyclone Michaung, according to a Reuters report.

Taiwanese tech giants Foxconn and Pegatron on Monday (Dec 4) halted production of Apple iPhones at their facilities near the south Indian city of Chennai in Tamil Nadu, owing to the incessant rains in the region brought by Cyclone Michaung, according to a Reuters report. The company is yet to take a call on whether to resume production on Tuesday (Dec 5). Foxconn employs as many as 35,000 people at its factory and the halt could have serious ramifications on the production of the iPhones. This is the second time in recent months that Pegatron has had to bring shutters on production. In September, the Pegatron facility was shut for three days due to a fire accident. Multiple reports at the time claimed that the fire was sparked by a short-circuit after an electrical switch was left on, following testing of the devices as they were being put together. The models being assembled at Pegatron are Apple iPhone 14 Plus and 15 Plus. Considering the average cost of these models is around $1000, the impact of not operating for a day means that $20 million worth of phones are not produced. Also read | Pegatron resumes iPhone assembly at Indian factory, three days after fire Cyclone Michaung Cyclone Michaung which emerged from the Bay of Bengal has intensified into a cyclonic storm and is within touching distance of Chennai. The extreme rainfall by Michaung has brought the city to a standstill. As of the last update, five were reported dead in rain-related incidents in the city. According to the meteorological department, over the next 24 hours, the cyclone is expected to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. Watch | India: Red alert in 10 districts, thousands evacuate as Cyclone Michaung nears × Dr Balachandran, head of the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC), informed WION that 15 locations have recorded heavy rainfall, 59 locations have recorded very heavy rainfall and 21 locations have witnessed extremely heavy rains. Wind speeds near the Chennai airport clocked 88 kmph, while the wind speeds at the core city area clocked 71 kmph. Rescue and evacuation operations are underway at multiple localities in Chennai and adjoining districts, with the civic authorities (With inputs from agencies)

Cyclone Michaung: Foxconn, Pegatron halt iPhone production in Chennai

It has been less than two weeks since Apple released its newest iteration of the iPhone. The highly-anticipated iPhone 14 was launched amid much fanfare but it has quickly run into trouble as users complain of bizarre camera problems.

It has been less than two weeks since Apple released its newest iteration of the iPhone. The highly-anticipated iPhone 14 was launched amid much fanfare but it has quickly run into trouble as users complain of bizarre camera problems. Reportedly, some users have been facing problems with the phone's camera that shakes uncontrollably while strange grinding sounds come out of it. The users noted that when opening the camera on third-party apps like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram, the iPhone starts shaking rather uncontrollably which could inadvertently damage the small delicate parts of the smartphone. Several users, including tech YouTubers, took to social media platforms to share videos of the phone shaking. A netizen complained about the situation by tweeting, "Friend's iPhone 14 pro is facing this issue while shooting from rear camera in action mode and also gets pretty warm in this particular mode. Anyone facing Similar issues @Apple @AppleSupport." Meanwhile, another posted video of the incident saying, "So uh, we’re having some issues with the 14 Pro Max camera." Read more: Apple launches iPhone 14: How good are the new iPhones? Are they worth the money? It is pertinent to note that users have encountered the problem only in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models. Meanwhile, the lower-end models of the iPhone 14 have remained unscathed from the bug causing the trouble. During the launch, Apple revealed that it had made several upgrades to the camera in the new iPhone. It included a 48 MP sensor and an action mode that generated smoother videos, akin to that of a GoPro. However, the emergence of bugs has taken the sheen out of its products. With millions of iPhones already out of the shelves, it can be a big nuisance for Apple if the bug issue is not sorted quickly before other users encounter the same problem. Earlier, Apple had to deal with iPhone 14 preorder issues and iMessage and FaceTime activation problems. Read more: Apple to manufacture iPhone 14 in India; plans to bring it on par with China (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

iPhone 14 Pro users encounter shaky camera and 'bizarre' sounds while using third party apps

India can emerge as a major manufacturing centre for iPhones in the near future. The Tata group is currently in talks with Wistron Corp to form a partnership for manufacturing iPhones in India. Bloomberg reported that Tata group wants to acquire a share in the Taiwanese company and use the manufacturing power to boost the iPhone production.

Apple Inc are looking to start their production in the country very soon. According to the company announcements, the first batch of products is expected by next quarter after Apple chose India as their new manufacturing choice in Asia in order to stop their reliance on China after the pandemic.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/india-china-armies-to-complete-disengagement-from-disputed-border-area-by-september-12-514800" hreflang="en">India-China armies to complete disengagement from disputed border area by September 12</a>

The Economic Times reported that the target for the company is to produce the first batch of iPhones in India by December this year at the Foxconn factory near Chennai.

While the average shipments of iPhones to India is somewhere near 370,000 units, experts believe that the manufacturing plant can result in India getting around 570,000 units in 2022.

Also&nbsp;read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prince-william-to-inherit-ps1bn-estate-as-he-becomes-the-new-duke-of-cornwall-514795" hreflang="en">Prince William to inherit £1bn estate as he becomes the new Duke of Cornwall</a>

The other good news for Indian fans of the iPhone is that the waiting time for the product can also go down significantly as Apple decreased it from 10-12 months to six months. According to Reuters, it can come down to 2-3 months in the near future once the manufacturing plant is functional.

Apple recently launched four new models as part of the iPhone 14 series and the price of the high-end phones currently lies between $1,002 and $1775.

(With inputs from agencies)

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India can emerge as a major manufacturing centre for iPhones in the near future. The Tata group is currently in talks with Wistron Corp to form a partnership for manufacturing iPhones in India.

India can emerge as a major manufacturing centre for iPhones in the near future. The Tata group is currently in talks with Wistron Corp to form a partnership for manufacturing iPhones in India. Bloomberg reported that Tata group wants to acquire a share in the Taiwanese company and use the manufacturing power to boost the iPhone production. Apple Inc are looking to start their production in the country very soon. According to the company announcements, the first batch of products is expected by next quarter after Apple chose India as their new manufacturing choice in Asia in order to stop their reliance on China after the pandemic. Also read | India-China armies to complete disengagement from disputed border area by September 12 The Economic Times reported that the target for the company is to produce the first batch of iPhones in India by December this year at the Foxconn factory near Chennai. While the average shipments of iPhones to India is somewhere near 370,000 units, experts believe that the manufacturing plant can result in India getting around 570,000 units in 2022. Also read | Prince William to inherit £1bn estate as he becomes the new Duke of Cornwall The other good news for Indian fans of the iPhone is that the waiting time for the product can also go down significantly as Apple decreased it from 10-12 months to six months. According to Reuters, it can come down to 2-3 months in the near future once the manufacturing plant is functional. Apple recently launched four new models as part of the iPhone 14 series and the price of the high-end phones currently lies between $1,002 and $1775. (With inputs from agencies)

Tata Group in partnership negotiations to make iPhones in India: Report

In a precedent-breaking move, the Brazilian government on Tuesday levied a fine of $2.38 million on Apple and ordered the company to stop selling its iPhones without a battery charger in the South American country.

In a precedent-breaking move, the Brazilian government on Tuesday levied a fine of $2.38 million on Apple and ordered the company to stop selling its iPhones without a battery charger in the South American country. According to a Reuters report, the fine was imposed by Brazil's ministry of justice which stated that the iPhone lacking an essential component was a "deliberate discriminatory practice against consumers". The ministry further ordered the cancellation of the sale of iPhone 12 and newer models while also suspending any other iPhone model that did not come bundled with the power charger. Read more: Apple's next big money-making idea: More ads in iPhones The Brazilian authorities outrightly rejected Apple's argument that removing the battery charger from its iPhones helped in reducing carbon emissions. It is yet to be seen if Apple complies with the Brazilian authorities, especially given that the new iPhone 14 launches in less than 24 hours. WATCH | iPhone 14 coming soon: Are you excited? | Tech It Out × It's not the first time that Apple has run into trouble for its decision. Earlier this year, a court in Brazil ordered Apple to pay a man $1,000 for not including a power adapter with his iPhone. Calling the practice a 'tie-sale', Judge Vanderlei Caires Pinheiro stated that "Apple obliged the consumer to purchase a second product of its exclusive manufacture which was an abusive and illegal commercial practice." Moreover, last year in October, a group of university students in China filed a lawsuit against the California-based company. In the lawsuit, the students argued that Apple was using 'concerns for environment' as an excuse to sell its MagSafe chargers separately. They further asserted that Apple's MagSafe chargers consumed more electricity than the wired ones, thereby nullifying the said 'environmental gains' by removing the shipping of chargers. It is pertinent to note that since 2020, Apple is selling its flagship product without a charger citing environmental concerns. Reportedly, the removal of chargers also helped Apple reduce the size of the iPhone's retail boxes which has, in turn, helped the company make more than $6 billion. Read more: Apple to manufacture iPhone 14 in India; plans to bring it on par with China (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ahead of iPhone 14 launch, Brazil suspends sale of iPhones without battery charger, imposes fine

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers.

The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by Zuk Avraham, chief executive of San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company ZecOps, while investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client in late 2019. Avraham said he found evidence the vulnerability was exploited in at least six cybersecurity break-ins.

An Apple spokesman acknowledged that a vulnerability exists in Apple’s software for email on iPhones and iPads, known as the Mail app, and that the company had developed a fix, which will be rolled out in a forthcoming update on millions of devices it has sold globally.

Apple declined to comment on Avraham’s research, which was published on Wednesday, that suggests the flaw could be triggered from afar and that it had already been exploited by hackers against high-profile users.

Avraham said he found evidence that a malicious program was taking advantage of the vulnerability in Apple’s iOS mobile operating system as far back as January 2018. He could not determine who the hackers were and Reuters was unable to independently verify his claim.

To execute the hack, Avraham said victims would be sent an apparently blank email message through the Mail app forcing a crash and reset. The crash opened the door for hackers to steal other data on the device, such as photos and contact details.

ZecOps claims the vulnerability allowed hackers to remotely steal data off iPhones even if they were running recent versions of iOS. By itself, the flaw would given access to whatever the Mail app had access to, including confidential messages.

Avraham, a former Israeli Defense Force security researcher, said he suspected that the hacking technique was part of a chain of malicious programs, the rest undiscovered, which could have given an attacker full remote access. Apple declined to comment on that prospect.

Avraham based most of his conclusions on data from “crash reports,” which are generated when programs fail in mid-task on a device. He was then able to recreate a technique that caused controlled crashes.

Two independent security researchers who reviewed ZecOps’ discovery found the evidence credible but said they had not yet fully recreated its findings due to time constraints.

Patrick Wardle, an Apple security expert and former researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency, said the discovery “confirms what has always been somewhat of a rather badly kept secret: that well-resourced adversaries can remotely and silently infect fully patched iOS devices.”

Because Apple was not aware of the software bug until recently, it could have been very valuable to governments and contractors offering hacking services. Exploit programs that work without warning against an up-to-date phone can be worth more than $1 million.

While Apple is largely viewed within the cybersecurity industry as having a high standard for digital security, any successful hacking technique against the iPhone could affect millions due to the device’s global popularity. In 2019, Apple said there were about 900 million iPhones in active use.

Bill Marczak, a security researcher with Citizen Lab, a Canada-based academic security research group, called the vulnerability discovery “scary.”

“A lot of times, you can take comfort from the fact that hacking is preventable,” said Marczak. “With this bug, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a PhD in cybersecurity, this will eat your lunch.”

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers. The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by Zuk Avraham, chief executive of San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company ZecOps, while investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client in late 2019.

Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers. The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by Zuk Avraham, chief executive of San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company ZecOps, while investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client in late 2019. Avraham said he found evidence the vulnerability was exploited in at least six cybersecurity break-ins. An Apple spokesman acknowledged that a vulnerability exists in Apple’s software for email on iPhones and iPads, known as the Mail app, and that the company had developed a fix, which will be rolled out in a forthcoming update on millions of devices it has sold globally. Apple declined to comment on Avraham’s research, which was published on Wednesday, that suggests the flaw could be triggered from afar and that it had already been exploited by hackers against high-profile users. Avraham said he found evidence that a malicious program was taking advantage of the vulnerability in Apple’s iOS mobile operating system as far back as January 2018. He could not determine who the hackers were and Reuters was unable to independently verify his claim. To execute the hack, Avraham said victims would be sent an apparently blank email message through the Mail app forcing a crash and reset. The crash opened the door for hackers to steal other data on the device, such as photos and contact details. ZecOps claims the vulnerability allowed hackers to remotely steal data off iPhones even if they were running recent versions of iOS. By itself, the flaw would given access to whatever the Mail app had access to, including confidential messages. Avraham, a former Israeli Defense Force security researcher, said he suspected that the hacking technique was part of a chain of malicious programs, the rest undiscovered, which could have given an attacker full remote access. Apple declined to comment on that prospect. Avraham based most of his conclusions on data from “crash reports,” which are generated when programs fail in mid-task on a device. He was then able to recreate a technique that caused controlled crashes. Two independent security researchers who reviewed ZecOps’ discovery found the evidence credible but said they had not yet fully recreated its findings due to time constraints. Patrick Wardle, an Apple security expert and former researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency, said the discovery “confirms what has always been somewhat of a rather badly kept secret: that well-resourced adversaries can remotely and silently infect fully patched iOS devices.” Because Apple was not aware of the software bug until recently, it could have been very valuable to governments and contractors offering hacking services. Exploit programs that work without warning against an up-to-date phone can be worth more than $1 million. While Apple is largely viewed within the cybersecurity industry as having a high standard for digital security, any successful hacking technique against the iPhone could affect millions due to the device’s global popularity. In 2019, Apple said there were about 900 million iPhones in active use. Bill Marczak, a security researcher with Citizen Lab, a Canada-based academic security research group, called the vulnerability discovery “scary.” “A lot of times, you can take comfort from the fact that hacking is preventable,” said Marczak. “With this bug, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a PhD in cybersecurity, this will eat your lunch.”

Flaw in iPhone, iPads may have allowed hackers to steal data for years

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