Apple Disables FaceTime Group Calls to Stop Eavesdropping Bug

Apple temporarily turns off FaceTime group calling as it develops a patch for a severe bug that allows users to eavesdrop on others. The company promises a permanent software fix later this week.

28 Jan 2019 • 1 min read

Apple disables the group calling feature in FaceTime while it works on a patch for a serious eavesdropping bug. The company's status page currently shows that group FaceTime calls are temporarily unavailable as a stop-gap measure to protect users. TechCrunch confirms that attempting to set up a group call fails, preventing anyone from exploiting the vulnerability while a permanent solution is finalized.

The bug allows a caller to secretly listen to and even view a recipient without their consent. It activates when a user initiates a group call and adds their own contact as a participant, which tricks the recipient's phone into streaming audio from the microphone. If the recipient attempts to dismiss the call by pressing the volume or power button, the camera unexpectedly turns on as well while the screen still shows the incoming call interface.

This security flaw is highly embarrassing for Apple, a company that heavily markets its dedication to user privacy. Apple states that it has identified a fix and plans to release a software update later this week to resolve the issue. Until the patch arrives, users do not need to disable FaceTime entirely, though some may understandably remain hesitant to use the service.

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