Apple to Fix Major FaceTime Bug That Lets People Covertly Hear Your Audio and See Your Video 'Later This Week' [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple is planning to address a major FaceTime bug that allows anyone who FaceTimes you see the audio and video from your iPhone or iPad even if you don't answer the call.

In a statement made to Axios, Apple said it was aware of the issue and has identified a fix that will be "released in a software update later this week."

It's not clear when "later this week" is, but Apple will presumably address the bug as quickly as possible because it us a huge privacy violation. While it was originally thought that it only allowed someone who called to hear your FaceTime audio, pressing the power button on a device also allows video to be seen.

These FaceTime calls can be made covertly and are super easy to initiate, requiring only a few steps as outlined in our original post on the subject.

All you need to do is initiate a FaceTime call and add your own number to it while it's ringing, forcing a connection with another person. There is no way to stop someone from using FaceTime this way other than disabling FaceTime on your devices.

Update: Apple appears to have temporarily addressed the issue by disabling Group FaceTime calls server side. On Apple's System Status page, Group FaceTime is now listed as unavailable.

Article Link: Apple to Fix Major FaceTime Bug That Lets People Covertly Hear Your Audio and See Your Video 'Later This Week' [Updated]

 

[max.ine]

I mean, I would hope so.

 

[Scooz]

Hm. Craig or Tim? Will any Apple exec take the blame this time?

 

[richard371]

Well until then let’s have some fun.

 

[44267547]

Hm. Craig or Tim? Will any Apple exec take the blame this time?

Or, you seem to be missing the fact that Apple is acknowledging the glitch and is readily making adjustments to correct it. It’s not always about placing blame, it’s about acknowledging the glitch, moving forward to a resolution and protecting the consumer as quickly as possible to fix the issue.

 

[donster28]

Apple is planning to address a major FaceTime bug that allows anyone who FaceTimes you see the audio and video from your iPhone or iPad even if you don't answer the call.

In a statement made to Axios, Apple said it was aware of the issue and has identified a fix that will be "released in a software update later this week."

It's not clear when "later this week" is, but Apple will presumably address the bug as quickly as possible because it us a huge privacy violation. While it was originally thought that it only allowed someone who called to hear your FaceTime audio, pressing the power button on a device also allows video to be seen.

These FaceTime calls can be made covertly and are super easy to initiate, requiring only a few steps as outlined in our original post on the subject.

All you need to do is initiate a FaceTime call and add your own number to it while it's ringing, forcing a connection with another person. There is no way to stop someone from using FaceTime this way other than disabling FaceTime on your devices.

Article Link: Apple to Fix Major FaceTime Bug That Lets People Covertly Hear Your Audio and See Your Video 'Later This Week'

Wait! Don't fix it! I want to know if the person on the other line is really happy to talk to me.

 

[birdieman128]

Presumably you would know who would be listening on your conversation through the RECENT screen of All or Missed Calls.

 

[DrJohnnyN]

Holy crap. Major security issue. I use FaceTime for roughly 6-7 hrs daily with patients and family/friends.

 

[Scooz]

Or, you seem to be missing the fact that Apple is acknowledging the glitch and is readily making adjustments to correct it. It’s not always about placing blame, it’s about acknowledging the glitch, moving forward to a resolution and protecting the consumer as quickly as possible to fix the issue.

Nah, that’s just a communications technique to look active after not being active enough in the first place.

Don’t let the spokesman distract you from looking at the person responsible.

 

[iPad Retina]

I did this to my friends several times just today. and one did not have their phone nearby, the call went on for close to an hour. I could listen to his phone till he declines the call.

 

[Scooz]

Hm, any Apple exec available on Facetime? A peek into the war room might be fun right now.

 

[ohbrilliance]

the call went on for close to an hour

Yikes. There's a difference between having a bit of fun and being creepy.

 

[mi7chy]

Hm. Craig or Tim? Will any Apple exec take the blame this time?

They'll point finger at Scott Forstall again.

 

[s15119]

Good on Apple for addressing it and fixing it right away.

 

[480951]

This needs to be thoroughly investigated, why are you able to have access to someone's mic/camera without them even answering to begin with? I'm really concerned about how long this bug has been out but not widely known or reported on. This is easily the worst bug I've ever seen in 12 years of using Apple products and I would not be surprised if they're sued for this.

 

[andiwm2003]

Yikes. There's a difference between having a bit of fun and being creepy.

actually i think the person on the receiving end of the call has to hang up to stop the call. if they are not hanging up then you can rejoin the "call" as often as you want for as long as you want even if you hang up in between.

 

[usarioclave]

This is an interesting bug. The FT call will interrupt a call on the other user's phone as well.

This implies that the FaceTime stream can be controlled from the remote client, which is really bad. They may have stumbled across some kind of FaceTime back door.

REMOBs!

 

[needfx]

I think @arn is trying to listen in

 

[canadianreader]

Facetime turned off. A lot of **** passed the beta test unnoticed lately and now this. What a terrible company Apple is becoming

 

[lederermc]

Since I don't have a video called "Later This Week" I guess this doesn't apply to me MacRumors needs a headline editor.

 

[max2]

This happen to me on T-mobile when I was trying it.

Glad I didn't stay with them.

 

[drumcat]

Why was this not in the testing suite? These basic issues should be under the basic regression test case run, and there's no excuse otherwise.

Tim, give me a call. I'd be right pissed about now.

 

[ErikGrim]

Hoo boy! As bugs go, for a security and privacy focused company like Apple, this is downright brutal.

 

[MacDonaldTrump]

wow that's a major privacy issue.. later this week, sure no urgency

 

[TMRJIJ]

I thought that was a feature
....Sorry, Facebook ruined my sense of humor.