Apple said it found no evidence of cyber criminals exploiting newly discovered vulnerabilities in its email app for iPhone and iPad, software used by hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
The company is countering assertions by cyber-security firm ZecOps that software flaws may have allowed hackers to infiltrate iPhones and other iOS devices for more than a year.
Apple launched an investigation and said in a statement the mail issues were insufficient by themselves to allow attackers to bypass built-in security, adding it will issue a fix soon.
“We have thoroughly investigated the researcher’s report and based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users,” Apple said.
“The researcher identified three issues in mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections… we have found no evidence they were used against customers.”
San Francisco-based ZecOps said on Wednesday the vulnerability can be exploited when a specially crafted email is opened on the app by an iPhone or an iPad.
The flaws may have been used in attacks conducted by “an advanced threat operator,” it said in a report.
Among the victims were “individuals from a Fortune 500 organisation in North America” and “an executive from a carrier in Japan,” as well as “a journalist in Europe”, ZecOps said.
The vulnerabilities may have been exploited by attackers since January 2018, it added.
The bugs were disclosed publicly when Apple issued a beta update and attackers “will likely use the time until a patch is available to attack as many devices as possible,” ZecOps predicted.
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Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 2 (Heaton (og) 42', Lindelof 64')
Aston Villa 2 (Grealish 11', Mings 66')
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
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If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.