Apple Denies iOS Backdoor Access Claims

Just yesterday we reported that according to a security researcher, he had discovered that Apple had installed several backdoors in iOS that made it easy for someone with the right tools and knowledge to gain access to a person’s iOS device. It was suggested that this could be because Apple wanted to make it easy for law enforcement agencies to gain access in the event that they needed one, with the proper requests and paperwork of course.

Well it seems that Apple was not too pleased by the researcher’s findings and has since issued a statement, denying that the existence of the backdoors, and once again reiterating that Apple has never worked with any government agency to create a backdoor into any of their products and services.

“We have designed iOS so that its diagnostic functions do not compromise user privacy and security, but still provides needed information to enterprise IT departments, developers and Apple for troubleshooting technical issues.” They also go on to refute that data on the phone, which is not encrypted even when it’s locked, can be accessed.

“A user must have unlocked their device and agreed to trust another computer before that computer is able to access this limited diagnostic data. The user must agree to share this information, and data is never transferred without their consent.”

Given that the Snowden reports seemed to have blown the doors wide open regarding NSA spying, it is understandable that some were a bit freaked out by this, and some presumably a little outraged as well. In any case what do you guys think? Does Apple’s explanation and denial make sense to you?

Tyler Lee
Categories: Apple
Tags: iOS, Security