Apple promotes the privacy features of the iPhone 13, but does not address the spyware concerns

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James Martin / CNET This story is part of the Apple Event, our full coverage of the latest news from Apple.

Apple says the iPhone 13 offers privacy “built in from the start”. He pointed to the processing on the device of voice commands and features to block third-party tracking as proof of that commitment.

The features will arrive as part of iOS 15, which launches on Monday. This means that most iPhone users will benefit from the upgrade, not just those who buy stylish new smartphones.

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For example, the new operating system gives Siri voice recognition on the device. This means that Siri voice requests don’t leave your iPhone to be processed remotely. The Smart Tracking Prevention feature also prevents trackers from profiling you using your IP address. Email privacy protection also hides your IP address and prevents senders from knowing your email activity, the company said.

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Tuesday’s launch of the flagship devices, however, skipped two significant issues that raise questions about Apple’s privacy practices. The company did not mention an urgent update of its operating systems that shut down an exploit that has already been used to target activists and journalists. Apple has also shunned its plans to spy on users by searching iPhone, Mac and iPad for images of child exploitation.

On Monday, Apple released security updates for its iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac computers that close a vulnerability reportedly exploited by invasive spyware created by NSO Group, an Israeli security company.

The fix comes from research conducted by The Citizen Lab, a public interest cybersecurity group that found that a Saudi activist’s phone was infected with Pegasus, the NSO group’s best-known product. According to Citizen Lab, the zero-day, zero-click exploit against iMessage, dubbed ForcedEntry, targets Apple’s image rendering library and has been effective against the company’s iPhone, laptop, and Apple Watch.

Apple says it’s doubtful that the exploit posed a danger to most users, noting that any attack should be highly sophisticated and cost millions of dollars to develop. As a result, a cybercriminal would likely save it for use against a specific person.

However, Citizen Lab, which is based at the University of Toronto, has expressed concern about the potential use of the exploit. It determined that NSO used the vulnerability to remotely infect devices with its Pegasus spyware, adding that the exploit has likely been in use since February. “We urge readers to update all Apple devices immediately,” the group said.

Separately, Apple faced backlash over a now-postponed feature set designed to detect whether people have child exploitation images or videos stored on their device. The features were originally slated to be included in iOS 15, iPad OS 15, WatchOS 8, and MacOS Monterey.

The function converts images into unique bits of code, known as hashes. The hashes are then checked against a known child exploitation content database maintained by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. If a certain number of matches are found, Apple receives an alert and can then choose to investigate.

Security experts and digital privacy groups, including Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fight for the Future and Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (STOP), denounced the plan and organized protests on Monday before the iPhone launch in front of a dozen Apple stores. .

In addition to equating to corporate surveillance, the groups say the feature would create a backdoor into consumer devices that could be exploited by authoritarian regimes and potentially life-threatening.

Apple hasn’t said when the feature will be released. On September 3, it delayed rollout to make improvements and address privacy concerns.

Apple’s fall launch, also virtual this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tends to be the most important of the year for the company. That’s when the company announces the new iPhones, which make up about half of its revenue. Its 2020 range, the iPhone 12, offered 5G and the first major design revamp since 2017’s iPhone X.

Ian Sherr of CNET contributed to this report.

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