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Apple Releases iPhone Update To Fix Group FaceTime Eavesdropping Bug (cnet.com)

Posted by msmash on from the fyi dept.

Apple on Thursday released iOS 12.1.4, an iPhone update that fixes a Group FaceTime bug that allowed users to eavesdrop on each other. The update is a available for the iPhone 5S and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch 6th generation. From a report: Last week, Apple turned off Group FaceTime after a bug was identified that allowed iPhone users to call another device via the FaceTime video chat service and hear audio on the other end before the recipient had answered the call. It essentially turned any iPhone into a hot mic without the user's knowledge. Apple on Friday said it'd fixed the vulnerability on its servers and that it'd issue a software update to re-enable Group FaceTime. Apple also apologized to users who were affected and said it takes the security of its products "extremely seriously."

37 comments

  1. Bricked iPhone 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How about a solution for my bricked iPhone 6 you mother fuckers?

    1. Re:Bricked iPhone 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iPhone XS?

    2. Re: Bricked iPhone 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Take it out of your butt?

    3. Re: Bricked iPhone 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      iPhone Fugly Retard.

    4. Re: Bricked iPhone 6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is so slippery, I canâ(TM)t take hold of it. Will try hooking by a headphone jack and pulling out.

  2. Apple hands cust data to law enforcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    This just in, Apple has handed over iCloud data over to law enforcement. Same Apple that said they never would, that refused to help the FBI get data from a mass shooter's phone in California. They now turned over data with a simple single request.

    Story

    Yep, it is officially worse to support Trump than to shoot and kill a bunch of people in a mass murder spree.

    1. Re: Apple hands cust data to law enforcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where does it say Apple gave them access? Perhaps he had no password on his phone.

    2. Re:Apple hands cust data to law enforcement by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 4, Informative

      This just in, Apple has handed over iCloud data over to law enforcement. Same Apple that said they never would, that refused to help the FBI get data from a mass shooter's phone in California. They now turned over data with a simple single request.

      The Gateway Pundit article is misleading. Apple refused to unlock the phone of the shooters, but did turn over their iCloud information after being served a warrant. Same as they did with Stone. AppleInsider's story is more informative:

      The information provided on Stone is the same type of information that Apple provided from the San Bernardino shooter's device from 2016 after a warrant was served. Unlike the San Bernardino iPhone 5C, a device unlock has not been requested for Stone's devices, nor has one been performed.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    3. Re:Apple hands cust data to law enforcement by kqs · · Score: 1

      The Gateway Pundit article is misleading. Apple refused to unlock the phone of the shooters, but did turn over their iCloud information after being served a warrant. Same as they did with Stone.

      A right-wing information source is giving incorrect information, that anyone could easily disprove but which their readers never verify for themselves? Must be Thursday. Or Tuesday. Or some other day ending in a "Y".

      Seriously, folks, when you see a story too crazy to believe, that's probably because it's false. Please don't be so gullible. This goes for you left wing folks too, unless it's something insane that Trump or Steve King supposedly said/tweeted. In that case, well, experience shows it's probably true.

    4. Re:Apple hands cust data to law enforcement by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1

      Seriously, folks, when you see a story too crazy to believe, that's probably because it's false. Please don't be so gullible. This goes for you left wing folks too, unless it's something insane that Trump or Steve King supposedly said/tweeted. In that case, well, experience shows it's probably true.

      I'm a libertarian, so I don't trust any of them. However, I often find the accusations of what Trump said/tweeted is mischaracterized. Take for instance the time he asked Russia if they could find Hillary's missing emails. It was clearly a joke, and anyone who claims to not understand this is either lying or stupid. They're the same ones who will mod this down to maintain their narrative.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
    5. Re:Apple hands cust data to law enforcement by kqs · · Score: 1

      You seem really defensive for some reason.

      Trump's statements about El Paso and the fencing/wall there are laughably false. Almost every statement about North Korea has been uninformed, untrue, or a prediction which was unlikely at the time (and later shown incorrect). He brags about the record-breaking growth in his economy when the growth was notably better under Obama. And those are all just from last week, are provably false in context, and they are believed by many conservatives.

      During Obama's term, a survey showed that more than 50% of conservatives were not certain that Obama was an american citizen. I... don't know what to say about that, except that it implies that you cannot overestimate the gullibility of the modern conservative. I cannot think of anything which was both so easily disproven and was as widely believed by liberals. There are crazy beliefs on both sides, but one side is so clearly off-the-rails compared to the other.

  3. Mod Up by SuperKendall · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Sad to see another company give way to the federal government on things like this. And all for Stone, so dangerous he was released on bail the next day?? Sad I say.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re: Mod Up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They were server with a warrant you asshole. So it was either give the data or goto jail.

    2. Re: Mod Up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Served

    3. Re: Mod Up by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      Well thank God you spelled asshole right! Glad you have your priories in order.

  4. Urgent: **Please help reclaim the Swastika** by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Consider it stolen Nazi treasure, and reclaim a part of **all** humanities heritage:

    Swastika information center:

    https://www.proswastika.org/

  5. Older devices? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 0

    The update is a available for the iPhone 5S and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch 6th generation.

    So everyone with older devices is left to rot? Fuck you, Apple.

    --
    #DeleteFacebook
    1. Re:Older devices? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The update is a available for the iPhone 5S and later, iPad Air and later, and iPod touch 6th generation.

      So everyone with older devices is left to rot? Fuck you, Apple.

      In other words, any iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch model that can participate in GROUP FaceTime. Or more succinctly, any 64-bit iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

      Makes sense to me.

  6. Now, you KNOW I have to say it... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    See subject & I TOLD YOU SO https://apple.slashdot.org/com...

    * :)

    APK

    P.S.=> Now, to all my 'naysayers' (who HIDE behind UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous STALKING me)? THAT felt good & know what ELSE (ah, THIS is 'tradition'):

    THIS? This was just "too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2ez""... lol! apk

  7. Would be feature, not update by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    So everyone with older devices is left to rot?

    You mean the ones that cannot run Group FaceTime to begin with... Derp!

    Fuck you, Apple.

    No sir - fuck *you*. And the already dead horse you came in on.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Would be feature, not update by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 3, Funny

      You can insult me, but do not insult my horse! He's not dead yet! In fact, he's going for a walk and feels happy!

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    2. Re:Would be feature, not update by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So the device lacks a front facing camera? If not, why doesn't it support group facetime? All other chat software uses whatever's available and a huge number of them have group chats.

      Is this another artifical limitation placed on the device to make you buy a new one?

    3. Re:Would be feature, not update by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So everyone with older devices is left to rot?

      You mean the ones that cannot run Group FaceTime to begin with... Derp!

      Fuck you, Apple.

      No sir - fuck *you*. And the already dead horse you came in on.

      Royal Prince of Zamunda:
      Yes... yes.... FUCK ... YOU ... TOOO!

  8. And in typical apple style by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this bug fix will introduce numerous more bugs.

  9. "Extremely seriously" lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Which is why they ignored the kid who found the bug despite many attempts to bring their attention to it. Honestly, bug hunters shouldn't bother contacting Apple. Just release your exploit into the wild as that seems to be the only way to get Apple's attention.

    1. Re:"Extremely seriously" lol by Narcocide · · Score: 1

      Have you ever heard the phrase "the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing?"

    2. Re:"Extremely seriously" lol by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 0

      Yes I did. And it makes for awkward situations when trying to masturbate.

      --
      #DeleteFacebook
    3. Re:"Extremely seriously" lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which is why they ignored the kid who found the bug despite many attempts to bring their attention to it. Honestly, bug hunters shouldn't bother contacting Apple. Just release your exploit into the wild as that seems to be the only way to get Apple's attention.

      Wrong, Hater!

      They gave him a Bug Bounty AND a Scholarship...

      https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/02/07/apple-pays-teenager-for-discovery-of-group-facetime-bug-with-bug-bounty-scholarship

      Now just FUCK RIGHT OFF.

  10. Now, you KNOW I have to say it... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    See subject (again, see below lol) & I TOLD YOU SO https://apple.slashdot.org/com...

    * :)

    (Again after WEEZILz (lol) TRIED to hide fact - https://apple.slashdot.org/com...
      & you now ALSO KNOW another fact: I won't ALLOW it... lmao! )

    APK

    P.S.=> Now, to all my 'naysayers' (who HIDE behind UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous STALKING me)? THAT felt good & know what ELSE (ah, THIS is 'tradition'):

    THIS? This was just "too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2ez""... lol! apk

  11. Response by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    He's not dead yet! In fact, he's going for a walk and feels happy!

    Oh really.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  12. Now, you KNOW I have to say it... apk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject (again, see below lol) & I TOLD YOU SO https://apple.slashdot.org/com...

    * :)

    (Again after WEEZILz (lol) TRIED to hide fact 2x https://apple.slashdot.org/com... - https://apple.slashdot.org/com...
      & you now ALSO KNOW another fact: I won't ALLOW it... lmao! )

    APK

    P.S.=> Now, to all my 'naysayers' (who HIDE behind UNIDENTIFIABLE anonymous STALKING me)? THAT felt good & know what ELSE (ah, THIS is 'tradition'):

    THIS? This was just "too, Too, TOO EASY - just '2ez""... lol! apk

  13. It took an OS update to fix one app? by drinkypoo · · Score: 0

    They couldn't just update the app and push out the update? And the new OS update doesn't apply to older devices?

    This smells of Apple-scented shit.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    1. Re:It took an OS update to fix one app? by presearch · · Score: 1

      Yeah, just patch the thing and ship it.
      No need to run full regression tests and make sure the fix didn't break anything else.

    2. Re:It took an OS update to fix one app? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Yeah, just patch the thing and ship it.
      No need to run full regression tests and make sure the fix didn't break anything else.

      If fixing a bug in an app breaks your OS, then your OS is garbage.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:It took an OS update to fix one app? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They couldn't just update the app and push out the update? And the new OS update doesn't apply to older devices?

      This smells of Apple-scented shit.

      They already had an iOS Update and macOS Update in the Beta stage. They just added this to the Betas that were in their last couple of weeks of Public Beta Testing.

      And it applies as far back as Devices that are capable of GROUP FaceTime go: That's ALL 64-bit iOS Devices (iPhone 5s and above, iPad Air 4IIIRC) and above, and iPod 6th gen.). I don't know how far back for macOS; but likely back to at least High Sierra.

      Now kindly FUCK OFF.

  14. Software freedom helps users keep devices free. by jbn-o · · Score: 1

    You mean the ones that cannot run Group FaceTime to begin with

    Perhaps they could if Apple weren't preventing users from implementing it themselves via the power of proprietary software. The grandparent poster's sentiment is correct but comes from the wrong angle—the proper argument which all proprietors lose to is to point out how proprietary software is anti-user. Keeping devices working for the user is far more important economically to the user and far more important to the ecology than taking the pro-proprietor angle. And those values are far more important to our well-being and ability to continue to live on this planet, thus making them far more important values overall.

    --
    Digital Citizen
  15. Not secure by design by dromgodis · · Score: 1

    If an app could expose this security hole then the OS is not secure by design (or implementation).

    If it is not fixed at the OS level we just have to wait for the next similar vulnerability to be discovered.