Apple: We have never worked with the nation's Hacker group to create backdoors in our products

[aGameOfThrones]

While it may feel we're more at the stage where we're counting the parts of our digital lives that the NSA can't access, the revelation yesterday that the agency had relatively deep access to iPhones was still a shock to many. Apple included, it seems, prompting it to issue a statement to AllThingsD denying any involvement in the NSA's program, explaining it has never worked or cooperated with the NSA to create a backdoor on any of its products -- though it does comply with official requests. The same statement goes on to claim that it will work to close any vulnerabilities in its software, no matter who it might be that is exploiting them. Apple is far from the first large tech company to have it's products and services targeted by the NSA, and we suspect it's only a matter of time before even more come to light. You can read the complete statement passed the break.


Apple has never worked with the NSA to create a backdoor in any of our products, including iPhone. Additionally, we have been unaware of this alleged NSA program targeting our products. We care deeply about our customers' privacy and security. Our team is continuously working to make our products even more secure, and we make it easy for customers to keep their software up to date with the latest advancements. Whenever we hear about attempts to undermine Apple's industry-leading security, we thoroughly investigate and take appropriate steps to protect our customers. We will continue to use our resources to stay ahead of malicious hackers and defend our customers from security attacks, regardless of who's behind them.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/31/apple-denies-nsa-backdoor/

[Occam's Banana]

Apple [explained] it has never worked or cooperated with the NSA to create a backdoor on any of its products -- though it does comply with official requests.

And if the NSA officially "requested" that Apple lie publicly about having worked or cooperated with the NSA? What then, pray tell ...?

[mello]

Typically, when someone gets caught hacking someone's iPhone they can get some hardcore time in prison. When the NSA does it to every iPhone, it's standard operating procedure.

I hope Apple makes a statement saying that they will patch those security holes so the NSA will not be able to illegally hack into their client's private info and records.

[Dr.3D]

Maybe Apple created it's own backdoors and then decided to share them.

[mello]

Here is a Apple's Statement about this:

Here is the full statement from Apple:

Apple has never worked with the NSA to create a backdoor in any of our products, including iPhone. Additionally, we have been unaware of this alleged NSA program targeting our products. We care deeply about our customers’ privacy and security. Our team is continuously working to make our products even more secure, and we make it easy for customers to keep their software up to date with the latest advancements. Whenever we hear about attempts to undermine Apple’s industry-leading security, we thoroughly investigate and take appropriate steps to protect our customers. We will continue to use our resources to stay ahead of malicious hackers and defend our customers from security attacks, regardless of who’s behind them.

[youngbuck]

And if the NSA officially "requested" that Apple lie publicly about having worked or cooperated with the NSA? What then, pray tell ...?

Exactly, as if there's any reason to believe their PR damage control.

[mello]

Exactly, as if there's any reason to believe their PR damage control.

Apple already complies with official requests. (Apple got its fair share of requests for customer data from US law enforcement, receiving between 4,000 and 5,000 of them between December 1 2012 and May 31 2013. These requests covered over 9,000 accounts or devices, and come from federal, state and local authorities.)

Why would they risk losing customers by putting a backdoor for the goverment to have unfettered access as well? I don't buy it.

[Root]

And if the NSA officially "requested" that Apple lie publicly about having worked or cooperated with the NSA? What then, pray tell ...?
Thought crime, reported. Happy new year.

[GunnyFreedom]

Apple CEO calls the NSA 'malicious hackers' and vows to close whatever security hole the NSA claims to have exploited:

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-anger-on-the-nsa-iphone-hacking-2013-12