FaceTime Bug Bothers Users and Intrudes Their Privacy!

IOS users are hoping that Apple solves this issue right away.

FaceTime icon on an Apple device.
FaceTime – Apple

 

FaceTime, a popular videotelephony product developed by Apple Inc. is in the news. This time it’s not because of exceptional quality service or new features but due to a bug that threatens your security. The bug allows a user to call anyone with FaceTime and listen to the audio coming from their smartphone, even before the person has picked up the call.

 

This is a major security and privacy issue because a person or organization with wrong intentions can listen in to the conversations of any iOS user. As the phone still rings normally, the iOS user might not be able to hear the ringing, especially when the user is at a crowded place.

 

One of the solutions suggested to users who want to protect their privacy from the FaceTime bug is to disable FaceTime by visiting the iOS settings.

 

This bug was discovered when a user initiated a FaceTime video call with another person who has an iOS device and FaceTime and added themselves to the call while the number was still dialling. A conference call was created which allows the first user (the person who dialled) to eavesdrop on the audio that was being transmitted by the recipient. Further research revealed that a video of the call could also be secretly transmitted to the first user if that person had pressed the volume controls or the power button.

 

According to reports, the bug confuses the group chat software so that it activates the microphone of the call receiver even when the receiver has not answered the call. The eavesdropping can only stop when the call is cut after several rings.

 

Apple is aware of the issue, has apparently fixed it and still wants to users to wait for a few days. The company has disabled the Group FaceTime feature in iPhones after the bug was reported. A statement was issued by the company in which it said that the company is aware of the issue and has identified a fix that will be released as a part of an upcoming software update that would be available in a few days.

 

We think that this kind of bug might impact the popularity of Apple and may reduce the charm of new Apple iOS in some users.