iPhone hack attack shows why we need to rein in the trade in spyware
Downloading security updates for computers and mobile devices is a regular routine for most of us.
But not all such updates are created equal. Apple’s recent iOS 9.3.5 update (and a related update to parts of OS X) was one of the more significant in recent memory.
The update fixed three security flaws which, used in combination, could give an attacker full control over an iPhone if the phone’s user clicked on a malicious link.
The discovery of these security flaws brought to light a relatively new, low-profile and ethically questionable business: selling potent hacking tools, and information about security flaws that make them effective, to government agencies and private companies around the world.
Downloading security updates for computers and mobile devices is a regular routine for most of us.
But not all such updates are created equal. Apple’s recent iOS 9.3.5 update (and a related update to parts of OS X) was one of the more significant in recent memory.
The update fixed three security flaws which, used in combination, could give an attacker full control over an iPhone if the phone’s user clicked on a malicious link.
The discovery of these security flaws brought to light a relatively new, low-profile and ethically questionable business: selling potent hacking tools, and information about security flaws that make them effective, to government agencies and private companies around the world.
