Photo: Apple
A newly discovered FaceTime privacy glitch allows Apple users to hear, and in some cases see, the person they are calling — even if they don’t pick up.
The bug — which went viral over social media on Monday night — affects iPhones and iPads equipped with iOS 12.1 and Apple computers that run macOS Mojave, all of which have the popular Group FaceTime feature that the company has heavily advertised in marketing campaigns.
All the while, the recipient would have no indication they are being listened to since their screen would only show the call is coming in and not yet connected.
A video that demonstrated the eavesdropping glitch garnered nearly five million views on Twitter since being posted on Monday.
CNNreported that, with a few additional steps, FaceTime video can be transmitted as well.
In a statement to theAssociated Press, Apple said they are aware of the issue and “have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week.” Apple did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
In an effort to minimize the impact of the bug before a fix is issued, the company temporarily disabled the Group FaceTime feature last night, according to theirwebsite.
In aMacRumorsarticle posted this morning, a Twitter user tried tweeting to Apple Support over a week before the glitch went viral to report her 14-year-old son finding a “major security flaw” in Group FaceTime. After not hearing back, the unidentified womantweeted directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
“I called, FB messaged, faxed, emailed and tweeted Apple exhaustively last week to no avail,” shetweetedlast night. “Never heard from them.”
With iPhone sells slowingover the last few months since the release of the iPhone XS, the news is surely coming at a bad time for the company.
source: people.com
