Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s highly sought-after devices iPhones, iPod, iPads and Macs have a major security flaw that puts millions of users at risk. The security loophole allows hackers to gain access to your email, Facebook, Twitter and other communications, and alter them at will. The company admitted to the security flaw on Friday. The loophole affects any user of iPhone 4 and later models, iPad 2, 3 and Air, and the iPod Touch. Security experts found that Mac OS X users are even more vulnerable.
Did Apple establish a backdoor for NSA?
The “Gotofail” flaw allows an attacker to gain access to your Gmail, Facebook and other secure accounts if you both share the same wireless network like WiFi at a coffee shop. The hacker can sit between you and websites to monitor/alter the communication. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) declined to mention when it learned about the glitches in its SSL identification, or whether hackers have exploited the flaw. The error in the code was so basic that it sparked a debate among cybersecurity experts. Such a simple flaw, but with severe consequences, is unimaginable from one of the world’s most advanced technology companies.
Many security experts questioned whether it was just a simple error, theorizing that it was Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s deliberate attempt to create a backdoor for the NSA. Recently leaked documents showed that the federal spying agency could easily gain access to 100% of iPhones. Some researchers have found that the bug was first detected in iOS 6 around the time Edward Snowden claimed that the NSA has created a backdoor into Apple products. The iPhone maker has reiterated that it hasn’t established any back door for spy agencies.
Don’t use Apple’s Safari browser until the flaw is fixed
Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG)’s security expert Adam Langley said that this kind of minute bug in the code is a nightmare. Langley says it might have been a gruesome mistake. Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) released the software patches to fix the bug in iOS 7. But the company is yet to fix the OS X flaw. Experts advised users not to use Safari browser on their laptop and desktop until Apple fixes the issue.
It’s a rare security issue for Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL). The Cupertino-headquartered tech company has built a reputation of providing better security than Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Windows operating system.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares sank 0.41% to $523.10 in pre-market trading Monday.
