Researchers working for the CIA were involved in a “multi-year, sustained effort” to crack security measures and undermine encryption on Apple devices, The Intercept reports, citing top secret documents leaked by Edward Snowden.
The documents were presented at one of clandestine annual security conferences known as the “Jamboree.” The CIA-sponsored forums took place annually for nearly a decade, while the leak covers the period of 2006 to 2013.
Though the report does not provide the details of any successful operations waged against Apple, the documents describe several methods US intelligence officers were using to attempt to infiltrate the tech giant’s products.
One of the most egregious revelations detailed by The Intercept was an attempt to create a dummy version of Xcode — the tool used to create many of the apps sold the Apple App Store. If successful, this could allow spies to insert surveillance “backdoors” into any app created using the compromised development software.
The docs also claim that the CIA was actively working to crack encryption keys implanted into Apple mobile devices that secured user data and communications.
The news has spurred backlash amongst security experts on Twitter and will likely prompt heighted security audits from Apple developers. The revelations are expected to strain already tense relations between the company and the US government.
A spokesperson for Apple pointed to previous statements by company CEO Tim Cook on privacy, but did not comment further on the breach.
Do you realize the whole importance of this threat to our privacy?
Why our Government does all it's best to spy on ordinary people?
Apple must have given up to the CIA being afraid of big problems.
I don't feel safe and private in the most liberal and democratic state in the world!!!
