It was already known that the fix for the Group FaceTime eavesdropping bug was being worked on by Apple. Now it appears the iOS 12.1.4 update that will contain the remedy is in the wild being tested, as it’s beginning to show up in website analytics data.
We began seeing a handful of visits from devices running an iOS 12.1.4 update on January 29, the day after the bug was widely publicized and spread across the internet.
Apple announced on Monday that a software fix for the Group FaceTime bug would come “later this week,” but it’s Friday morning, and there’s no sign of a fix as yet. Hopefully, the fix will come later today.
The bug allows FaceTime users to hear audio and see video from another user, even if the party doesn’t answer the call. As a short time fix, Apple turned off Group FaceTime on their servers, preventing users from accessing the feature.
Apple has reportedly known about the bug for awhile, possibly at least since January 20, when the mother of a teenage contacted the iPhone maker. The woman says she didn’t receive any response from Apple, despite sending emails and a video.
Apple has already been hit with at least one lawsuit over the security issue, and New York State is launching a probe into whether Apple failed to properly warn its customers about the bug.
Stay tuned and on the look out for the iOS 12.1.4. We’ll also tweet availability when we see it on our @MacTrast Twitter account.
