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FaceTime eavesdropping bug is a blow to privacy-touting Apple (Update: Fix is now available)
July 18, 2025
Update, February 7. 2019 (2:22PM EST):Apple released iOS 12.1.4 earlier today, reportedNeowin. The update fixes the Group FaceTime bug that Apple temporarily fixed by taking Group FaceTime offline.
The update also fixes a Live Photos flaw discovered in FaceTime’s security audit and includes a few other security fixes. On a related note, Apple also released a supplemental update for macOS 10.14.3 that also addresses the Group FaceTime bug.
You must download the update if you want to use Group FaceTime. The same goes for iOS 12.2 beta users, who don’t yet have the fix.
If you have an iOS device, go toSettings > General > Software Updateto download and install the update.
Original article, July 16, 2025 (8:33AM EST):AnAppleFaceTime bug has been discovered allowing users to hear the person they are calling before they accept or decline the call. The problem, picked up by9to5Mac, can seemingly affect anyone with iOS 12.1 or later.
You can exploit the bug by starting a FaceTime video call with a contact. While this call is ongoing, you can add yourself to the call — using your own number — to begin a group call.
From then until the receiver rejects the call, their handset’s microphone is activated and audio is transmitted (as if they had answered it). However, their phone screen stills show the call is incoming, rather than connected.9to5Macand others have also reported methods foractivating the receiver’s videosince the initial exploit was discovered.
Apple is aware of the issue and hastaken Group FaceTime offlinewhile it addresses it. The company also said the bug would be fixed in a software update this week.
How big is the problem?
Despite Apple’s swift response, the existence of the bug itself is alarming and could have had severe consequences.
As many people now silence their phones while at work or even at home because of so many notifications, a person could have used this exploit dozens of times to listen in to whole conversations without the receiver ever knowing. Thankfully, group FaceTime only officially launchedlast October with iOS 12.1, so it hasn’t had much time to be used in a wrongful manner (if anybody was even aware of it prior to yesterday).
What could be worse than the damage it caused to users is the damage it has on Apple’s image. Only earlier this month during CES 2019, Apple produced adverts touting its user privacy strengths, while it was onlyyesterdaythat CEO Tim Cooktalked up“action and reform for vital privacy protections.”
The company has long-since held its own privacy and security over other hardware manufacturers. In itsiOS 12.1 security document from last November, Apple called iOS “a major leap forward in security for mobile devices.” Meanwhile, in an iOS security overview document from last year, thecompany stated, “Only Apple can provide this comprehensive approach to security, because we create products with integrated hardware, software, and services.” Based on this recent FaceTime incident, it seems the system isn’t as secure as Apple would have us all believe.
That’s not to say that Apple is any worse than its competitors. Privacy-related incidents are a common occurrence in an industry that increasingly relies on always-listening services to provide virtual assistant experiences. Two examples include Googlehaving to disable the hardware button on the Home Miniin order to stop it from recording everything andAmazon Echo recording and sending a couple’s private conversationsto a third user.
That said, this FaceTime incident is a serious blow to Apple’s carefully constructed image of the champion of privacy. After all, if users can’t trust a relatively simple service like FaceTime to protect their privacy, why would they buy into Apple’s greater narrative that it puts privacy above all else?
If you have concerns about FaceTime, you can disable FaceTime in iOS Settings until Apple issues a fix.
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