Apple halts group FaceTime after bug allows people to hear others before call picked up
- 5 years ago
Apple has disabled a group-chat function in FaceTime after users said a software bug could let callers activate another person's microphone remotely.
With the bug, a FaceTime user calling another iPhone, iPad or Mac computer could hear audio _ even if the receiver did not accept the call. The bug is triggered when callers add themselves to the same call to launch a group chat.
That makes FaceTime think the receiver had accepted the chat.
The bug, demonstrated through videos online, comes as an embarrassment for a company that is trying to distinguish itself by stressing its commitment to users' privacy.
With the bug, a FaceTime user calling another iPhone, iPad or Mac computer could hear audio _ even if the receiver did not accept the call. The bug is triggered when callers add themselves to the same call to launch a group chat.
That makes FaceTime think the receiver had accepted the chat.
The bug, demonstrated through videos online, comes as an embarrassment for a company that is trying to distinguish itself by stressing its commitment to users' privacy.