Apple Joins Govt Probe Into "State-Sponsored" Hacking Alerts

Apple on Thursday (2 November) joined the probe by CERT-In, the Indian government's cyber security agency, into allegations regarding attempts to hack the iPhones of certain Opposition leaders.

The controversy arose when some of the leaders who used Apple phones received alerts from the company about "state-sponsored attackers" targeting their devices.

Meanwhile, the government has said the investigation is focused on “determining if the Apple products are secure and safe and can be trusted to protect the privacy of the consumers”.

The Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, has stated that the IT Ministry has issued a notice to Apple.

The notice seeks an explanation regarding the alert sent to political leaders and some members of the media, warning them about potential “state-sponsored attackers who are remotely trying to compromise” their iPhones.

“The government is determined to get to the bottom of this. Our investigation is focused on determining if the Apple products are secure and safe and can be trusted to protect the privacy of the consumers,” Chandrasekhar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.

“If Apple devices are safe… we want to know what those ‘threat notification messages’ were. We have asked them to explain. If their devices are secure and safe, they should be transparent and disclose the vulnerabilities to their consumers and the government,” the minister said.

“Since the threat notifications have gone to 150 countries, it’s important that Apple joins the investigation and explain honestly and transparently,” Chandrasekhar added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the CERT-In has started an investigation.

An Apple team joined the investigation on Thursday, Indian Express reported citing government sources.

Several political leaders, including Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, TMC’s Mahua Moitra, and AAP’s Raghav Chadha, along with a few journalists, have claimed to receive a notification from Apple regarding attempts by state-sponsored attackers to compromise their iPhones.