The security of Apple’s iCloud servers has had some considerable focus of late after a host of celebrities had their accounts raided and personal, intimate photos of them distributed online. After initially appearing to have been hacked, iCloud suffered quite the bloody nose over the incident.
While Apple did release a rather terse and ill-considered press release on the matter, CEO Tim Cook has now stepped in to try and restore some sense to proceedings after giving an interview to The Wall Street Journal. It’s now clear that while Apple’s initial response was tone deaf at best, iCloud was not hacked but rather those who wee affected either had their login credentials stolen via a phishing attack, or their accounts were unlocked via some form of social engineering surrounding their account’s security questions.
Cook was clear that no credentials were leaked by Apple’s iCloud servers, and also detailed improvements what will now be made to iCloud account security.
Starting with the release of iOS 8 later this month, two-step verification will extend to mobile devices and Apple will do more to try and push its users to turning the enhanced security feature on for their accounts.
Stating in a couple of weeks – once the iPhone 6 announcement is out of the way – Apple will begin notifying users via email whenever their account password changes of someone tries to restore a device.
Apple may not have been directly at fault here, but its decision to firmly place its collective head in the sand with a heavy handed press release had done the company no favors, something Cook appears aware of.
With the iPhone 6 set to be announced in a few days, both Cook and the wider Apple will no doubt be hoping that iCloud problems don’t overshadow its big announcement shindig.
At the current point in time, we highly recommend that users with an Apple ID enable two-step verification for their accounts for the time being. It’s always better to be safe than sorry why you hadn’t put security measurers in the first place.
Go on, enable two-step right away. It won’t take more than a few minutes.
(Source: WSJ)
You may also like to check out:
You can follow us on Twitter, add us to your circle on Google+ or like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple and the web.
