The FBI has opened a probe into a security breach of Apple Inc’s iPad that exposed personal information of AT&T Inc customers, including those of several high-ranking government officials.
The breach, first reported by the Web site Gawker, occurred when a group calling itself Goatse Security hacked into AT&T’s iPad subscriber data, obtaining a list of e-mail addresses that also included celebrities, chief executives and politicians.
“The FBI is aware of these possible computer intrusions and has opened an investigation to address the potential cyber threat,” FBI spokesman Jason Pack said on Thursday.
AT&T, which has exclusive US rights to carry the iPad and the popular iPhone, has acknowledged the security breach but said it had corrected the flaw and that only e-mail addresses were exposed to hackers who identified a security weakness.
The iPad, launched in April, has already sold more than 2 million units worldwide. AT&T declined to comment on the FBI investigation.
The quick FBI probe into the security flaw came amid reports of several high-ranking government officials on the list of iPad owners with compromised personal information.
In all, more than 100,000 e-mail addresses are believed to have been exposed. Goatse could not immediately be reached for comment.
Security experts, however, said it was unlikely that other information besides e-mail addresses had been compromised.
Charlie Miller, an analyst with Independent Security Evaluators, argued that the breach had nothing to do with the iPad’s security.
“The actual vulnerability is pretty basic, but the loss of data is not serious, in my opinion. The data on the iPad and the devices themselves were never compromised or vulnerable,” Miller said via e-mail.
George Kurtz, chief technology officer for security software company McAfee, also downplayed the severity of the breach.
“I would guess that this application vulnerability gained so much attention because, after all, it is Apple we are talking about,” Kurtz wrote in a blog post.
“The hype around Apple products — like the new iPhone and iPad — is amazing. However, the reality is this type of vulnerability isn’t really news and happens all day long,” he wrote.
Nonetheless, the security gaffe isn’t likely to help AT&T win any friends among Apple customers. AT&T has been criticized by iPhone users for its network quality.
Still, few people thought the security snafu would hurt AT&T’s relationship with Apple.
“Everybody realizes security is an issue all companies have to deal with,” BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk said. “Apple has endured the reputation of AT&T’s network, which seems to be a much bigger deal.”
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE: Without its Taiwanese partners which are ‘working around the clock,’ Nvidia could not meet AI demand, CEO Jensen Huang said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and US-based artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer Nvidia Corp have partnered with each other on silicon photonics development, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said. Speaking with reporters after he met with TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) in Taipei on Friday, Huang said his company was working with the world’s largest contract chipmaker on silicon photonics, but admitted it was unlikely for the cooperation to yield results any time soon, and both sides would need several years to achieve concrete outcomes. To have a stake in the silicon photonics supply chain, TSMC and
SILICON VALLEY HUB: The office would showcase Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and help Taiwanese start-ups connect with global opportunities Taiwan has established an office in Palo Alto, one of the principal cities of Silicon Valley in California, aimed at helping Taiwanese technology start-ups gain global visibility, the National Development Council said yesterday. The “Startup Island Taiwan Silicon Valley hub” at No. 299 California Avenue is focused on “supporting start-ups and innovators by providing professional consulting, co-working spaces, and community platforms,” the council said in a post on its Web site. The office is the second overseas start-up hub established by the council, after a similar site was set up in Tokyo in September last year. Representatives from Taiwanese start-ups, local businesses and
‘DETERRENT’: US national security adviser-designate Mike Waltz said that he wants to speed up deliveries of weapons purchased by Taiwan to deter threats from China US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, affirmed his commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait during his confirmation hearing in Washington on Tuesday. Hegseth called China “the most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security” and said that he would aim to limit Beijing’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Voice of America reported. He would also adhere to long-standing policies to prevent miscalculations, Hegseth added. The US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was the first for a nominee of Trump’s incoming Cabinet, and questions mostly focused on whether he was fit for the
SHARED VALUES: The US, Taiwan and other allies hope to maintain the cross-strait ‘status quo’ to foster regional prosperity and growth, the former US vice president said Former US vice president Mike Pence yesterday vowed to continue to support US-Taiwan relations, and to defend the security and interests of both countries and the free world. At a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Pence said that the US and Taiwan enjoy strong and continued friendship based on the shared values of freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Such foundations exceed limitations imposed by geography and culture, said Pence, who is visiting Taiwan for the first time. The US and Taiwan have shared interests, and Americans are increasingly concerned about China’s
RSS