A new bug affecting Apple’s recently launched ‘Group Facetime’ feature was discovered, which permits iOS users calling via FaceTime to hear the audio coming from the recipient’s phone, even before they’ve accepted or denied the call, thereby threatening user privacy. Despite Apple disabling the group chat feature as a way to prevent the bug from eavesdropping, this glitch may continue to impact one-on-one FaceTime calls. In this regard, Gary Davis, Chief Consumer Security Evangelist at McAfee, provides advisory on how consumers can safeguard their device and their data:
“New mobile risks are emerging all the time, and the latest FaceTime bug is a reminder that these days your smartphone is just as data rich as your computer. In this particular case, the real problem is a privacy problem – as the bug essentially allows iOS users to listen in on each other, with no indication that someone is listening in on you. As we adopt new technology into our everyday lives, it’s important to consider how these emerging technology trends could lead to greater privacy risks if we don’t take steps to protect our data. Be sure to disable FaceTime in iOS Settings to be sure no one is listening in on you.” – Gary Davis, Chief Consumer Security Evangelist at McAfee.