Security News > 2023 > June > Kremlin claims Apple helped NSA spy on diplomats via iPhone backdoor

Russian intelligence has accused American snoops and Apple of working together to backdoor iPhones to spy on "Thousands" of diplomats worldwide.

A Kaspersky spokesperson told The Register it's aware of the FSB claims, but can't say if the two things - Uncle Sam backdooring iPhones, and the spyware found on several Kaspersky devices - are linked.

According to the FSB, Apple told the NSA of software vulnerabilities in its iPhone range so that American spies could compromise and monitor handhelds belonging to diplomats and embassies of Russia, NATO members, ex-Soviet nations, Israel, China, and others.

It's said the US used spyware to perform reconnaissance on those compromised iPhones, and that Apple cooperated with not just the NSA but also other American intelligence services to help agents spy on targets.

Apple declined to comment, though told non-Register media it "Never worked with any government to insert a backdoor into any Apple product and never will." The iGiant still really hasn't forgiven us for this, this, and this being read out in court by Samsung to support its position in a patent-infringement battle.

The main point of contention is whether Apple actually helped or cooperated with the NSA as described; the iGiant said it did not.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2023/06/01/fsb_apple_nsa_spyware_kaspersky/