Apple has released a security patch for iOS, following reports an Israeli security firm used a set of security loopholes for surveillance purposes.
According to the AFR, “Investigators discovered that a company called the NSO Group, an Israeli outfit that sells software that invisibly tracks a target’s mobile phone, was responsible for the intrusions. The NSO Group’s software can read text messages and emails and track calls and contacts. It can even record sounds, collect passwords and trace the whereabouts of the phone user.”
The company’s efforts were exposed earlier this month when prominent United Arab Emirates activist Ahmed Mansoor brought a series of suspicious text messages to San Francisco mobile security company Lookout.
“We advise all of our customers to always download the latest version of iOS to protect themselves against potential security exploits,” said an Apple spokesperson.
The fix comes just 10 days after a tip from two researchers at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs brought it to the company’s attention.
Apple recently stepped up its efforts to improve their platform security through a new bug bounty initiative.
