Strong Blastdoor security of iPhones turns out to be cracking after all
The so-called Blastdoor protection of iPhones can be circumvented. Several human rights activists were being monitored by the infamous Pegasus spyware.
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Blastdoor iPhone security cracked
That reports Citizen Lab. The Internet watchdog of the University of Toronto examined the infected iPhone 12 Pro of a Bahraini human rights activist.
This shows that the device was secretly infected with Pegasus in mid-February this year. This spyware is made by the Israeli company NSO and can be used to ‘tap’ people’s iPhones. For example, the software can secretly intercept messages and emails.
It is remarkable that the Pegasus software also worked on the latest versions of iOS, the operating system of the iPhone. The attackers used a so-called zero click attack to attack the iPhones. These kinds of attacks can be carried out completely from a distance.
How iPhone Security Was Bypassed
According to Citizen Lab, the attackers exploited a security flaw in Apple’s iMessage messaging service to secretly install the dreaded Pegasus software. Blastdoor was unable to prevent the attacks. Apple added this security system with iOS 14.
Citizen Lab reports that a total of nine human rights activists from Bahrain have been monitored with the spying software.
It is not clear who is behind the espionage. NSO, the maker of Pegasus, has previously stated that it cannot guarantee the actions of their customers. The Israeli company sells its software to governments and security services, among others.
Opposite TechCrunch An Apple spokesperson says Blastdoor isn’t the only way to secure iPhones. The company says it is doing everything it can to protect users and make iOS 15 even more secure. The new iPhone software will most likely be released next month.
Is your iPhone infected with spyware?
The free iMazing app has a built-in Pegasus detector. This allows you to quickly and easily check whether your Apple phone is infected with the notorious spyware. You probably run little risk, but an extra check can’t hurt.
Read more: How to check if your iPhone is infected with Pegasus spyware
