Apple has addressed the issues of Vault 7, the most recent release by WikiLeaks which concerns strong implications that the CIA have been using special software and hacking tools to remotely control and monitor phone activity. In the release, WikiLeaks wrote that these techniques allow the CIA “to bypass the encryption of WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Wiebo, Confide and Cloackman by hacking the ‘smart’ phones that they run on and collecting audio and message traffic before encryption is applied.”
However, Apple have stated that users who use the most up to date version of their iOS operating system are protected against most of the vulnerabilities that WikiLeaks outlined, and that the technology currently being used in today’s iPhones is the “best security available to consumers.” An Apple spokesperson said, “Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates into the hands of our customers, with nearly 80 percent of users running the latest version of our operating system. While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities.”
The company said that many of the issues raised in Vault 7 had already been patched over in the most recent iOS update but they closed their statement by urging anyone not currently using the latest operating system to update as soon as possible, as this gives them the highest level of protection.
The full list of ‘Year Zero’ documents can be found on the WikiLeaks website.
