14 DAY TRIAL // iPhones have a “special” something built in them that allows eavesdroppers to do what they do best, according to Edward Snowden’s attorney. And they don’t need physical access to your handset either.
The seemingly alarming news comes after Snowden leaked new documents revealing that iPhone security is very important to spy agencies, but in a way that they can tap these devices.
iOS security
In October 2014, Apple published a document titled iOS Security which details the strengths of the operating system at length. The company upholds that every iPhone and iPad “combines software, hardware, and services designed to work together for maximum security and a transparent user experience.” Some people beg to differ.
Snowden says the iPhone is one of the primary targets when it comes to eavesdropping. He wouldn’t be caught dead using one, according to Anatoly Kucherena, his lawyer.
“Edward never uses an iPhone, he’s got a simple phone,” Kucherena said. “The iPhone has special software that can activate itself without the owner having to press a button and gather information about him, that’s why on security grounds he refused to have this phone.”
UDID tracking
Snowden recently revealed that the Government Communications Headquarters, a British spy agency, allegedly used unique device identifiers (abbreviated UDID) to track iPhone users.
It is unclear just how much information someone can extract from an iPhone by simply getting hold of this identifier, but it’s certainly plausible that at least some actions can be taken to compromise the device from afar, considering the many uses for an UDID.