“If you’re running iOS 12.1 or later on your iPhone, then the iOS 12.1.4 patch that’s coming next week is a must-have because it patches what the worst iOS bug to hit iPhone and iPad users to date,” Adrian Kingsley-Hughes writes for ZDNet. “According to Apple, this patch will land ‘next week.'”
“iOS 12.1.4 will fix a [Group] FaceTime bug that offered a way for another iPhone or iPad user to eavesdrop on another iOS user by activating a [Group] FaceTime call without the user’s consent,” Kingsley-Hughes writes. “What made this bug all the worse is how trivial it was to implement. As is expected, this bug already resulted in at least one lawsuit.”
“Apple has now disable[d] Group FaceTime ability at the server end, putting a stop to this bug. However, this feature will remain disabled for all iOS users not running iOS 12.1.4 or later,” Kingsley-Hughes writes. “Keep an eye out for iOS 12.1.14, because it could land any time now.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We don’t know about “worst,” as we’ve had updates that have bricked iPhone models, but it’ll still be nice to have a secure Group FaceTime.
SEE ALSO:
Apple apologizes for Group FaceTime eavesdropping bug; will issue fix and re-enable feature next week – February 1, 2019
Canadian law firm applies for class action lawsuit against Apple over FaceTime eavesdropping bug – January 31, 2019
New York state begins probe into Apple’s slow response to FaceTime eavesdropping flaw – January 30, 2019
Apple sued over FaceTime bug that lets people eavesdrop – January 30, 2019
Apple was alerted about FaceTime eavesdropping bug days ago, did nothing – January 29, 2019
Apple, champion of ‘privacy,’ utterly blows it with massively stupid FaceTime bug – January 29, 2019
Apple to patch audio bug in FaceTime that allows users to hear audio and see video from users who have not yet accepted a call – January 29, 2019
Apple CEO Cook calls for U.S. Congress to pass comprehensive federal privacy legislation in TIME op-ed – January 17, 2019
Apple releases iOS 12.1 with Group FaceTime, Depth Control in Camera, and more – October 30, 2018
Group FaceTime is only the latest of many Apple technologies to be delayed – August 17, 2018
Apple removes Group FaceTime from iOS 12 and macOS Mojave, delays launch to later this year – August 13, 2018
Apple CEO Cook promotes privacy as ‘fundamental human right’ via tweetstorm; asks ‘What kind of world do we want to live in?’ – October 24, 2018
Open letter to Tim Cook: Apple needs to do better – January 5, 2015
This glitch was no where near the worse. If the lame $$ obsessed people that tripped over it had been a touch patient, and let Apple work, instead of assuming that things happen overnight, chances are you would have never ever heard about the issue
This is not a bug , it is a feature for the Government. How else are they going to spy on you? Truth be told, in order to do business in the US, a backdoor must be created for the Government? Dont listen to the BS they are flinging at you, they RE SPYING ON YOU.
Maybe not the “worst” iOS bug to date but that really depends entirely on who you are and how you value privacy.
Its probably the worst privacy breach in any tech product, ever anywhere. Pretty bad for a company that preaches privacy so much.
Ah to be a fly on the wall in the developer / team meeting at Apple where this was first revealed and discussed. And the exec meeting where Cook etc were present and 1st learned about it. I wonder what happens to people (devs, testers and their leaders etc) at Apple who let this magnitude of bug slip by?