How is it possible to hack into an iOS device?

[I7guy]

Through the phone number the were able to intercept messages which gave them the needed information (IMEI, SIM) to access devices camera/microphone/gps. They implied they were able to then access all major phone manufactures, iphone/samsung/... I am going to believe them, and Snowden. My IT experience tells me, anything can be hacked, if it hasn't yet, it is a matter of time. There is a major benefit to hacking current iphones, so hackers work on it. The likelihood of the average person being hacked is slim to none, we simply have nothing a hacker would need.

Okay you answered the question. Basically through the use of covert devices, like sting ray towers, they were able to intercept communications between the phone and tower. This is not the same as Hacking the device and more akin to wiretapping.

Now if the question was, is it possible to eavesdrop in on my conversations; that is a different answer.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Okay you answered the question. Basically through the use of covert devices, like sting ray towers, they were able to intercept communications between the phone and tower. This is not the same as Hacking the device and more akin to wiretapping.

Now if the question was, is it possible to eavesdrop in on my conversations; that is a different answer.

They explained that using this information they are able to access physical devices. At least Snowden did. They have to use something to target a specific phone, and a phone number isn't tied to the phone. With this info, they are able to access cameras/mic on the physical devices.

 

[I7guy]

They explained that using this information they are able to access physical devices. At least Snowden did. They have to use something to target a specific phone, and a phone number isn't tied to the phone. With this info, they are able to access cameras/mic on the physical devices.

Is this using iOS 6 on an iPhone 4 or iOS 9.3.3 on a 6s? If this were really possible it would be all over the Internet.

 

[M. Gustave]

There is a great vice documentary that aired on HBO with Snowden you should watch... These phones are a lot more vulnerable than you think. Because you haven't heard of it, doesn't mean there aren't documented cases of hacking.

Good video, as far as those exposé type tv shows go, but nowhere in it do they hack an iPhone, or even mention a specific current threat to iPhones other than the vague spectre of Govt surveillance programs. The phone they pointlessly disassembled wasn't even an iPhone.

I'm as concerned as anyone about unchecked surveillance, but as @I7guy points out, we're talking about criminal or hobbyist hacker threats here, not the NSA. And I still don't get where you were going with the "your 18 years of experience" comment.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Here is some information:

https://www.zerodium.com/ios9.html
http://www.cultofmac.com/395515/hackers-have-found-a-way-to-remotely-jailbreak-ios-9/

 

[I7guy]

Here is some information:

https://www.zerodium.com/ios9.html
http://www.cultofmac.com/395515/hackers-have-found-a-way-to-remotely-jailbreak-ios-9/

That information is out of date by nearly a year and those loopholes closed.

 

[JT2002TJ]

That information is out of date by nearly a year and those loopholes closed.

M. Gustave stated nothing since 5c... And, are you sure the loopholes are closed? These are just the things we hear about, do you honestly think Chinese/Russian hackers can't get in?

 

[I7guy]

M. Gustave stated nothing since 5c... And, are you sure the loopholes are closed? These are just the things we hear about, do you honestly think Chinese/Russian hackers can't get in?

Yes, I really think they cannot remotely hack an iPhone. And I'm talking 64 bit architecture on the latest o/s release.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Yes, I really think they cannot remotely hack an iPhone. And I'm talking 64 bit architecture on the latest o/s release.

They were able to do it with 9.1 (at least one group came forward), why would it be a reach to think that all of a sudden, no one can do it... People kept swearing and swearing that no one can remotely hack an iphone, this is an example of the latest OS numbered version... From less than a year ago. And I'm going to bet there are more people on iOS 9.1 than there are on 9.3.3.

The answer is, "no one can hack (remotely or locally) an iphone, until someone does" Every OS can/will be hacked, it is simply a matter of time, and IF you hear about it, how good is a hack, if everyone knows about it...

 

[I7guy]

They were able to do it with 9.1 (at least one group came forward), why would it be a reach to think that all of a sudden, no one can do it... People kept swearing and swearing that no one can remotely hack an iphone, this is an example of the latest OS numbered version... From less than a year ago. And I'm going to bet there are more people on iOS 9.1 than there are on 9.3.3.

The answer is, "no one can hack (remotely or locally) an iphone, until someone does" Every OS can/will be hacked, it is simply a matter of time, and IF you hear about it, how good is a hack, if everyone knows about it...

Hundreds, well maybe dozens, of vulnerabilities have been patched since 9.1. Your argument that nothing is unhackable is of course correct, but it's also a straw man.

There is no systematic way of hacking into an iPhone remotely is the correct answer.

And that is why I'm happy Apple is supporting their devices for 4 to 5 years...security updates amongst functionality updates.

Security is a process not an end-point. Hopefully this discussion answered the ops question.

Given enough time, money and resources an iPhone can be hacked. Practically no though.

 

[JT2002TJ]

Hundreds, well maybe dozens, of vulnerabilities have been patched since 9.1. Your argument that nothing is unhackable is of course correct, but it's also a straw man.

There is no systematic way of hacking into an iPhone remotely is the correct answer.

And that is why I'm happy Apple is supporting their devices for 4 to 5 years...security updates amongst functionality updates.

Security is a process not an end-point. Hopefully this discussion answered the ops question.

Given enough time, money and resources an iPhone can be hacked. Practically no though.

Ok. Apple's latest version of iOS at anytime is perfect, and will remain perfect until the next perfect version comes out.

 

[I7guy]

Ok. Apple's latest version of iOS at anytime is perfect, and will remain perfect until the next perfect version comes out.

I thank you for the discussion, especially the clip posted.