Apple insists it has already patched “many” of the iOS vulnerabilities that were exposed in WikiLeaks’ CIA document dump Tuesday.
Cupertino says it is working to address any identified holes that weren’t already patched, and the company reminds fans that the software built for iPhone boasts the best data security available to consumers.
WikiLeaks’ latest release, dubbed Vault 7, is by far the anti-secrecy organization’s biggest to date. It includes 8,761 documents and files that reveal the full extent of the CIA’s alarming hacking practices.
It details the malware, trojans, and viruses used to turn iPhones and other smart devices into covert spying tools that can be used to track and monitor CIA targets, as well as vulnerabilities in software that the agency has been keeping a secret.
Apple fixing iOS vulnerabilities
Of those vulnerabilities, 14 were found in iOS, opening up the platform to “weaponized” attacks. However, in a statement published Wednesday, Apple insists it has already fixed “many” of the vulnerabilities detailed in the leak — and is working to address the rest.
“Apple is deeply committed to safeguarding our customers’ privacy and security,” the company told BuzzFeed’s John Paczkowski. “The technology built into today’s iPhone represents the best data security available to consumers, and we’re constantly working to keep it that way.
“Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates in the hands of our customers, with nearly 80 percent of users running the latest version of our operating system. While our initial analysts indicates many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue to work rapidly to address any identified vulnerabilities.
“We always urge customers to download the latest iOS to make sure they have the most recent security updates,” Apple concludes.
CIA lost control of its hacking tools
Some people, including famous iPhone jailbreaker Will Strafach, aka Chronic, have said the leaked CIA hacking documents are no cause for concern to iPhone users running up-to-date versions of iOS.
In fact, the most alarming revelation from the WikiLeaks dump isn’t necessarily the vulnerabilities that were being hoarded, or even the specialized malware the CIA developed or obtained. Instead, it was that the spy agency recently lost control of its “arsenal” of hacking tools.
Those who have obtained the tools now have “the entire hacking capacity of the CIA” at their disposal.
