$75,000 in bitcoins for this is a paltry sum from Apple. . . so I think it is a hoax. Apple's data is encrypted with 256 bit AES encryption as well, so again, it is highly unlikely.
However, on the off chance that these hackers have gotten a hold of an administrator's passcode and downloaded these data, it would probably be a good idea to change your AppleID passcode before the April 7 deadline to protect your data. Apple will most likely be changing its access protocols and passcodes as well to assure no further breeches if any have occurred in the past.
Again, I doubt such a download of such a large amount of data has occurred as it would have raised large red flags for system admins at Apple and been stopped in its tracks, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
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To: Swordmaker
Yet another of the many reasons Im thankful to be an Android user...
2 posted on
03/22/2017 12:18:46 PM PDT by
ObozoMustGo2012
("Be quiet... you are #fakenews!")
To: Swordmaker
That would explain why my Apple devices wanted me to sign in this morning.
3 posted on
03/22/2017 12:21:03 PM PDT by
ctdonath2
(Understand the Left: "The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the Revolution.")
To: Swordmaker
Such a small amount seems like a teenager’s demand to me.
Turkish Crime Family? I mean really?......................
6 posted on
03/22/2017 12:26:23 PM PDT by
Red Badger
(Ending a sentence with a preposition is nothing to be afraid of........)
To: Swordmaker
Watch and see if these “hackers” aren’t found to be a bunch of wankers down in their parents basement watching porn and eating pizza.
To: Swordmaker
Dear Mr Cook:
May I remind you that the Founding Fathers added a clause to the Constitution intended to permit businesses to handle such people in a rather dynamic and effective manner which your company can most certainly afford to - and cannot afford not to. Direct your lawyers to look into the “Letters of Marque”.
Sincerely,
A Loyal Customer
8 posted on
03/22/2017 12:29:50 PM PDT by
ctdonath2
(Understand the Left: "The issue is never the issue. The issue is always the Revolution.")
To: ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 5thGenTexan; AbolishCSEU; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; ...
Hackers calling themselves the "Turkish Crime Family" are holding Apple hostage, claiming they are going to wipe with 200 million of 599 million Apple user's iCloud and iPhones using purloined AppleIDs if Apple does not pay $75,000 in BitCoins by April 7. This has all the earmarks of a Hoax. Such a threat should be worth a lot more, and if they did indeed have access to Apple users' AppleIDs and iCloud accounts, accessing individual data would be worth a lot more than $75K working individually extorting money from people threatening to expose the data. Just 1000 accounts paying one bit coin each is over $1 million. I do not think their claim to be able to wipe Apple iPhones is even possible, because they would not have the AppleID passcodes, which Apple itself does not have access to. Also the data on Apple's servers is encrypted to 256 bit AES encryption. Still it might be prudent to change your AppleID passcode in the interest of safety before the April 7 deadline. PING!
Apple iCloud Security
Ping!
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9 posted on
03/22/2017 12:30:02 PM PDT by
Swordmaker
(This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
To: Swordmaker
11 posted on
03/22/2017 12:30:46 PM PDT by
Vendome
(I've Gotta Be Me - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH-pk2vZG2M)
To: Swordmaker
I wouldn’t bet the farm that existing controls would pick up the breech.
The $75k is interesting, such a small sum. Or is it a test?
If my wife’s iPad blanks out and she can’t play her Candy A$$ or whatever her latest game is we’ll have to talk more.
Apple must pay the $$$!!!!
To: Swordmaker
Mind you, I just changed my password less than a month ago AND enabled two-factor authentication. As such, these hackers cannot erase my phone because 1) they probably don't know my new password and 2) with two-factor authentication, they can't get into my phone anyway.
13 posted on
03/22/2017 12:36:20 PM PDT by
RayChuang88
(FairTax: America's economic cure)
To: Swordmaker
Riiiight. Just like Ashley Madison was going to release my name....I’ never even heard of them until the breech. They still threaten me.
15 posted on
03/22/2017 12:37:19 PM PDT by
Puppage
(You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
To: Swordmaker
They used to hang horse thieves; hackers deserve no less.
To: Swordmaker
“...demanded $75,000”
Idiots. Ask for much more.
18 posted on
03/22/2017 12:48:21 PM PDT by
mad_as_he$$
(Rick Grimes Rules.)
To: Swordmaker
Tim Cook should put a bounty on the heads of these hackers instead.
20 posted on
03/22/2017 12:50:28 PM PDT by
Paradox
("Donald Trump", the biggest Strawman ever created.)
To: Swordmaker
Hi Sword, thanks for the suggestion to change the AppleId. Hope you’re feeling well these days. I’m now shopping for new phone. The smaller models like SE are my current fav. But you’ve mentioned security improvements with each new iphone. I just wish they’d shrink these “phones” a bit from mini ipad territory. I know millenials are surfing more with their phones but geez! Have I reached the age of heading out to pasture? (rhetorical question, don’t answer)
21 posted on
03/22/2017 12:54:05 PM PDT by
The Westerner
(Protect the most vulnerable: Replace all textbooks K-12!)
To: Swordmaker
“...demanded $75K” It probably cost Apple more than that to asses the threat.
To: Swordmaker
Sounds like to me that these guys were able to get Apple ID credentials through social engineering not via “hacking”.
To: Swordmaker
better to be safe than sorry True, although I hate changing passwords. Some I've kept for years. Guess I'll have to change the "12345!54321" to "54321!12345". (People, don't copy my password for yourself!)
24 posted on
03/22/2017 1:04:21 PM PDT by
roadcat
To: Swordmaker
Agreed.
Highly unlikely this could be done.
26 posted on
03/22/2017 1:17:29 PM PDT by
Zathras
To: Swordmaker
Oh, no. Think of my Jetpack Joyride progress.
43 posted on
03/22/2017 3:39:10 PM PDT by
Rastus
To: Swordmaker
Welcome to the cloud!
Rent your data from us.
46 posted on
03/23/2017 7:39:52 AM PDT by
HangThemHigh
(Ebtropy is not what it used to be.)
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