Backdoor safe for some models of its popular products iPhone, iPad and Macnoticed Apple, which announced that exploitation of this vulnerability could allow any malicious hacker to take full control of the device. The tech giant has already released two new updates to affected devices, urging users of its products to download them to protect themselves from the possibility of a cyberattack.

In particular, explaining exactly what happened, Apple emphasized that security holes in devices allow hackers to gain administrator rights to the operating system, that is, complete control over it. Thus, someone can pretend to be the owner of the device and install any software.

Electronic device security experts advise device owners to update their devices immediately. Affected by the problem: iPhone 6 and later models, multiple iPad models from the fifth generation iPad onwards, all iPad Pro, iPad Air 2 and Mac computers Montereyas well as some iPod models.

At this point, Apple hasn’t said how, by whom, or when it discovered the security hole in its devices, but it does cite an unnamed researcher. At the same time, he states that there was at least one case of exploitation of this vulnerability in his systems, without disclosing, however, more detailed information.

They allow hackers to gain administrator rights to the operating system, that is, complete control over it.

Listening companies

Companies that sell eavesdropping software, such as Israel’s NSO Group, maker of the Pegasus software, are among those who find such security holes in the devices. They exploit them by creating malware that “infects” their targets’ phones and allows them to intercept all of their stored data and conversations and monitor them in real time. The US Department of Commerce has blacklisted an Israeli company and its spyware is said to be responsible for spying on journalists, activists and dissidents around the world.

Rachel Toback, CEO of SocialProof Security, stressed that all owners of Apple devices released after 2015 should start updating the software, and of course, those who are public figures should be especially careful.

Finally, it should be noted that in less than a month, in September, Apple is expected to introduce its new iPhone. Among the innovations that will be launched in its next devices is the company’s ability to automatically update a device’s software if it discovers a vulnerability in its security.