Apple Disables FaceTime Over Eavesdropping Bug

January 29, 2019 Business, Technology

Business Insider reports:

Apple temporarily disabled group FaceTime calls after it was alerted to a major bug, which allows iPhone or iPad users to secretly hear what someone is saying before they answer the call. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was among those advising people to disable FaceTime until Apple releases a fix, which it said could be as early as this week.

The bug is acutely embarrassing for Apple, which has long touted its privacy credentials. It also surfaced on Data Privacy Day, when CEO Tim Cook called for privacy reforms. It’s not clear how long the FaceTime bug has been out in the wild. A Twitter user, named MGT7, said their teenage son discovered the bug last week.

This #Facetime glitch allows users to eavesdrop on other people. @RebeccaJarvis has everything you need to know about this security scare. https://t.co/cjBq6wgp9u pic.twitter.com/Y6deNpBIhu

— Good Morning America (@GMA) January 29, 2019

An Apple bug is letting iPhone users eavesdrop on others via FaceTime. Here’s what to know https://t.co/bS0y75MHQd pic.twitter.com/Q6S6wQDh43

— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) January 29, 2019