Security is high on the minds of industry experts and iPhone users alike. With law enforcement clamoring for ways to “hack” iPhones, a flaw in the iMessage app rears its head. It’s a reminder of the challenging work programmers are faced with, plugging security gaps.
Apple is in the process of fixing one such gap in the iMessage app that could allow hackers to steal photos and videos from users. Steve Dent from Engadget explains that the flaw was originally found thanks to John Hopkins University professor Matthew D. Green. He showing that hackers could intercept video and images sent through iMessage with iPhones using earlier versions than iOS 9.
Apple made an effort to fix the problem before iOS 9’s release, but unfortunately, hackers could create an exploit modified from the security flaw for the current version of iOS. Professor Matthew D. Green, the one who discovered the issue with iMessage, says that hackers need “skills of a ‘nation sate’” in order to hack the app.
Hacking iMessage requires creating software that can emulate an Apple server, which could be used to intercept data. The iMessage app uses 64-bit data encryption for photos and videos. It also doesn’t lockout invaders after multiple failed attempts to decrypt data, giving hackers plenty of time to find ways past iOS security and snag images and videos, eventually decrypting them.
The fix is supposedly coming very soon, according to Engadget, but a partial fix has already come in the iOS 9.3 update. It’s part of an Apple event the company held on Monday. Apple said, quote, “we appreciate the team of researchers that identified this bug and brought it to our attention…security requires constant dedication and we’re grateful to have a community of developers and researchers who help us stay ahead.”
Internet security can feel like a leaky ship out at sea. Sometimes it can feel like plugging up one leak is followed by another. As is true with security, hackers try and try to find new ways around it. With the challenges Apple has faced recently, it’s good that the company has focused so much on iOS and OS X security. Apple is usually fast to act upon new security problems. The iMessage app issue will be fixed, and hopefully whatever issues may arise in the future, Apple will be able to fix them just as quickly.
Learn More: How to Safely and Securely Backup Your iPhone or iPad with Encryption