Posted on 03/24/2017 2:35:08 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Apple says that its preliminary assessments of the WikiLeaks documents released today indicate that the vulnerabilities it details for iPhone and Mac were fixed years ago. The documents, which originated with the CIA, detailed a variety of methods for compromising — breaking into — Apple devices if an agent was able to gain physical access to the device.
The leaks were a part of the “Vault7″ documents, which WikiLeaks has been dribbling out. Some of the exploits, like NightSkies, could access personal info like call logs and SMS conversations — but only with physical access.
Apple’s full statement is as follows
We have preliminarily assessed the Wikileaks disclosures from this morning. Based on our initial analysis, the alleged iPhone vulnerability affected iPhone 3G only and was fixed in 2009 when iPhone 3GS was released. Additionally, our preliminary assessment shows the alleged Mac vulnerabilities were previously fixed in all Macs launched after 2013.
We have not negotiated with Wikileaks for any information. We have given them instructions to submit any information they wish through our normal process under our standard terms. Thus far, we have not received any information from them that isn’t in the public domain. We are tireless defenders of our users’ security and privacy, but we do not condone theft or coordinate with those that threaten to harm our users.
As any security expert will tell you, once you gain physical access to a device, nearly all bets are off. Remote intrusion is a much more real and dangerous threat to the security of either end users or company-wide systems. Basically if you have the device in hand and all the time in the world it’s just a matter of plugging away.
That said, Apple’s devices have been engineered to be particularly resilient to even in-person attacks — which is why the CIA docs garnered attention by the press and users today.
To wrap — these appear to be older exploits, but government agencies are always seeking new vectors and likely have new methods in place already that Apple is or will be patching out as soon as they are disclosed by researchers or disclosed by legal discovery.
Here’s a few solid tips courtesy of our own Romain Dillet earlier today:
Featured Image: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch
I’m sure Apple and the CIA have then replaced the old exploits with new and improved exploits.
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Why would you imply that Apple is working with the CIA? Apple has been fighting the government's intrusion on their products' security for years.
That’s good to know.
Now every old iPhone will drop in price substantially..................
“Why would you imply that Apple is working with the CIA? Apple has been fighting the government’s intrusion on their products’ security for years.”
Do you really think so? Because to me it looks like the CIA/FBI/NSA lawsuit from a year or so back was just a dog and pony show that was designed to 1) convince the public that Apple products were secure and 2) to try to legitimize the information the CIA/FBI/NSA had already obtained via these exploits.
Apple attempting to cover this up.
CIA operation code name ‘Swordmaker’ is being implemented
: )
Apple would unlock every iPhone of the vintage these CIA exploits would work on when presented a valid Search Warrant. They cannot do it with later iPhones because they do not have the passcodes that only the users have.
Somehow I doubt that too many people are seeking to buy iPhone3Gs now. That's the last one this CIA as described will work on.
I assume the government has every text, email and phone call I’ve ever made on file.
I have no doubt they would use their data to prosecute me, if warranted. But would they allow me access to my data to defend myself?
At bare minimum, if my Apple system ever crashed, would the bastards help me back up my data?!?
At least make it customer-friendly, since we pay for the excrement in the first place!
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