WikiLeaks: Apple has addressed 'many' of the iPhone vulnerabilities exploited by CIA spies

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Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Apple has responded to WikiLeaks’ explosive ‘Vault 7’ document release, and claims to have already addressed the majority of the iPhone vulnerabilities allegedly exploited by CIA spies.

According to files released by the whistle-blowing group this week, the CIA used special software and hacking tools to remotely control and monitor phone activity, both on Android and iOS.

“These techniques permit the CIA to bypass the encryption of WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Wiebo, Confide and Cloackman by hacking the ‘smart’ phones that they run on and collecting audio and message traffic before encryption is applied,” wrote WikiLeaks in a release.

However, Apple says that customers running the latest version of its mobile operating system are protected from most of the vulnerabilities described in the WikiLeaks documents.

“Apple is deeply committed to safeguarding our customers’ privacy and security,” an Apple spokesperson told TechCrunch. “The technology built into today’s iPhone represents the best data security available to consumers, and we’re constantly working to keep it that way.

“Our products and software are designed to quickly get security updates into the hands of our customers, with nearly 80 percent of users running the latest version of our operating system.

“While our initial analysis indicates that many of the issues leaked today were already patched in the latest iOS, we will continue work to rapidly address any identified vulnerabilities.”

The company has urged customers to update to the latest version of iOS, as this gives them the highest level of protection.

The Vault 7 files also claim the CIA built software that enabled it to turn smart TVs into microphones, and WikiLeaks adds that the agency also looked into vehicle interference methods that could potentially enable it to assassinate people without detection.