Govt wanted action from Apple over October’s iPhone security alert: Report

Officials wanted action from Apple, demanding the tech giant soften the impact of the alerts warning of state-sponsored attackers trying to compromise iPhones.

By: HT TECH
| Updated on: Dec 28 2023, 11:03 IST
iPhone 15 Pro spatial video feature out with iOS 17.2; Know to use it with Vision Pro headset
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1/5 With the iOS 17.2 update, Apple introduced the spatial video feature to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max versions. It is a video format which will be used to capture videos for the upcoming Apple Vision Pro headset. (Apple)
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2/5 Apple says the spatial videos give a near-3D experience to the users. It simply transforms ordinary clips into immersive experiences by capturing 30 frames per second at 1080p which also uses advanced techniques and HEVC compression to make the viewing experience more fun for the users.  (Apple)
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3/5 To activate the feature, go to the settings on your iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and then go to camera. Tap on “Formats” and scroll down, there you will find “spatial video for Apple Vision Pro.” Now, simply turn on the toggle to activate the feature. (Apple)
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4/5 Now, capture spatial videos, open the camera app on your iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and switch to video mode. In the viewfinder, you will see a headset icon, tap on that, to capture videos in spatial format. Now simply tap on the red button to start recording spatial videos.  (Apple)
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5/5 Note that spatial videos on iPhone 15 Pro will appear like normal video, however, when you switch the Vision Pro headset, you will be experiencing these videos in a 3D format. Users can easily find spatial videos on their iPhone’s Photos app under the new Spatial album. The videos will be synced through all of your devices with iCloud. (Bloomberg)
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Many high-profile users received an alert warning them of “state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise” their Apple iPhones in October. (Unsplash)

In October 2023, several notable personalities, including members of the Opposition party alliance, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), as well as journalists received a notification on their Apple iPhones. The device warned them of "state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise” their Apple iPhones. These alerts raised an alarm among leaders as they posted screenshots of the same on their X accounts, seeking clarification for the same from the government. It caused the NDA government to also raise a query with the iPhone maker to share all the details about these alerts. Now, it has been revealed that the officials actually took action against Apple, according to a new report. Know all about it.

Govt action against Apple

According to a Washington Post report, officials demanded that the Cupertino-based tech giant soften the political impact of the alerts. The government reportedly also summoned an Apple security expert to a meeting and insisted they offer proxy explanations to the users regarding the alerts.

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“The visiting Apple official stood by the company's warnings. But the intensity of the Indian government effort to discredit and strong-arm Apple disturbed executives at the company's headquarters”, the report said.

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The alert - Who received it?

The leaders who received the alert include Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor, Pawan Khera and Supriya Shrinate, the Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav, the Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi, the CPI(M)'s Sitaram Yechury, the Trinamool Congress's Mahua Moitra, the Aam Aadmi Party's Raghav Chadha, and the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen's Asaduddin Owaisi. Interestingly, the same alert was sent to other high-profile officials in 150 other countries too on the same day.

Amid the commotion, Apple issued a statement on the issue. It said, “Apple does not attribute the threat notification to any specific state-sponsored attacker”. It also said that the attackers were very well-funded and sophisticated and that their attacks evolved over time.

“Detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete. It's possible that some Apple threat notifications may be false alarms, or that some attacks are not detected”, it added.

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First Published Date: 28 Dec, 11:03 IST
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