'Hacking Team' Data Breach Confirms Firm's Ability to Infiltrate Jailbroken iPhones

[MacRumors]

Cybersecurity firm Hacking Team experienced a data breach earlier today, resulting in 400 GB of its documents being leaked onto the Internet, reports The Guardian. The documents confirm Hacking Team's ability to infiltrate and monitor jailbroken iPhones on behalf of government law enforcement agencies like the NSA, as noted by Macworld.

Much has been speculated before and after Edward Snowden's release of a trove of National Security Agency (NSA) documents in 2013 about the capabilities of the United States' agencies as well as those of allies and enemies. The Hacking Team dump reveals quite a bit more about the routine functions of third-party suppliers into that ecosystem, including specifically enumerated capabilities.

iOS users should therefore take note that the long-running concern that jailbroken iPhones and iPads were susceptible to vulnerabilities that could include access by so-called state actors appears to be confirmed by the data breach.

Hacking Team's software would need to be installed on a jailbroken iPhone, but the firm has the ability to jailbreak and infect a phone with its software via a malware-infected trusted computer the phone is connected to. In the firm's pricing list [PDF, requires Chrome], it's revealed hacking an iOS device costs EUR50,000 ($55,242) and includes "features" like Skype, WhatsApp and Viber chats, location, contacts and lists of calls. However, this service also includes a prerequisite of a jailbroken iPhone.

Hacking Team uses a legitimate Apple enterprise signing certificate, which is used by corporations to create software that can easily be installed on employee devices, combined with jailbroken iOS devices to bypass iOS app installation protections. Additionally, Hacking Team developed the ability to create a malicious Newsstand app that could capture keystrokes and install monitoring software.

Last year, researchers working independently of each other at Kaspersky Lab and Citizen Lab discovered components of Hacking Team's tools and how they were used by government agencies to steal data from mobile devices, but the full extent of the software hadn't been confirmed until now.

Data breaching software and Apple devices have been in the news before, most famously in last year's celebrity iCloud data breach, where it was discovered that hackers were using ElcomSoft Phone Password Breaker, software intended for government and law agencies, to steal usernames and passwords to access iCloud backups.

While much of the discussion around government agencies and citizen data has revolved around mass collection, Hacking Team's software is designed to attack individual devices rather than a vast network. It's likely that the exploits detailed in Hacking Team's documents will be addressed and patched up in future iOS and Mac software updates.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Article Link: 'Hacking Team' Data Breach Confirms Firm's Ability to Infiltrate Jailbroken iPhones

 

[Shadow Runner]

It's a good thing Apple keeps making iOS more capable. I have less and less reason to jailbreak as they keep updating it.

 

[jmh600cbr]

That all sounds awful until you realize that you need an infected computer to make it happen

 

[furi0usbee]

Can I get it in the Mac App Store?

 

[AngerDanger]

Additionally, Hacking Team developed the ability to create a malicious Newsstand app that could capture keystrokes and install monitoring software.

Get back into your folder and just be glad I can't delete you… without a jailbreak.

 

[hfletcher]

So.... you're only actually vulnerable if you happen to have a Jailbroken iPhone and a computer that is also infected with their malware.

Pretty unlikely scenario?

 

[furi0usbee]

Dammit, Newsstand, is there a way in which you aren't irritating?

LOL @ Newstand. I want to know the one guy who uses that on a daily basis.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

Dammit, Newsstand, is there a way in which you aren't irritating?

Yes.

MacFormat magazine.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I've been saying we've been selling this to the government for years and no one seemed to care. Why is this news now? Been making tons off of this since 2008.

 

[Even Longer]

Aren't these guys got hacked themselves yesterday?
'Hacking team' went to 'Hacked team' and now they still claim some ability?!

Pathetic!

 

[jdogg836]

One of the arrogant members of that team was running his mouth on twitter this morning, stoking the fire even more. He was threatening the hackers who breached the data. Cool thing about all of the tools they have being released is within a few days, all the major anti-virus companies can update their software to find and remove this crap.

 

[lkrupp]

That all sounds awful until you realize that you need an infected computer to make it happen

It means the average user has absolutely nothing to worry about. It means you need to be targeted specifically by a professional. Your ex-boyfriend isn’t going to be able to do this. Neither will your nerdy cousin.

 

[rictus007]

That all sounds awful until you realize that you need an infected computer to make it happen

I wonder if it is a Mac or a regular PC

 

[AngerDanger]

Aren't these guys got hacked themselves yesterday?
'Hacking team' went to 'Hacked team' and now they still claim some ability?!

Pathetic!

A team that got hacked themselves is able to hack iOS. That seems more ominous than if the team was super competent and secure themselves.

 

[Rigby]

So.... you're only actually vulnerable if you happen to have a Jailbroken iPhone and a computer that is also infected with their malware.

Not necessarily. There are several components:

- Hacking Team's sniffing app can be installed on any iOS device because it is signed with a valid enterprise certificate.
- To give the app full access to the data on the phone, the phone needs to be jailbroken.
- Hacking Team offers malware for OS X and Windows that can jailbreak a phone that is connected to the computer, provided that the computer has pairing keys (the device has previously been connected to it). The malware could get on the computer e.g. via phishing or other means.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

Which is *exactly* why I stopped jailbreaking when I put my credit cards on the phone.

 

[KALLT]

One of the arrogant members of that team was running his mouth on twitter this morning, stoking the fire even more. He was threatening the hackers who breached the data. Cool thing about all of the tools they have being released is within a few days, all the major anti-virus companies can update their software to find and remove this crap.

Goes to show in what vulnerable position you are putting yourself by loading software from questionable sources with such far going access rights. Immature hackers with a unhealthy level of grandeur and flawed allegiances could ultimately be the downfall of an otherwise dedicated jailbreak community.

 

[JeffyTheQuik]

LOL @ Newstand. I want to know the one guy who uses that on a daily basis.

I'd like to meet the guy that uses it twice.

Once is bad enough.

 

[Dargoth]

I'd like to meet the guy that uses it twice.

Once is bad enough.

I'm sorry... I can't remember exactly, but I believe I used it twice. I'd like to meet the guy who uses it thrice.

 

[RangerXML]

Looks like someone forgot to change the root p/w...

Step 1. Jailbreak

Step 2. Change the root p/w.

 

[Swift]

Which is why, frankly, I don't care. Time for warrants to be given to hack the digital life of anyone for whom there is probable cause to believe is committing a crime, or terrorism. You know that police did not used to routinely get a warrant to wiretap? If you commit crimes on the Internet, and you certainly can, your privacy is not a right.

 

[WannaGoMac]

Is that a white macbook in the Guardian article image? Wow!

 

[MacMulti]

With great power comes greater responsibility and even greater risk.

 

[cocky jeremy]

So.... you're only actually vulnerable if you happen to have a Jailbroken iPhone and a computer that is also infected with their malware.

Pretty unlikely scenario?

"If we physically take your phone, run 10 laps around a building, all while connecting you to our single laptop, we can infect your iPhone!"

 

[Paradoxally]

Which is *exactly* why I stopped jailbreaking when I put my credit cards on the phone.

Apple Pay does not become less secure when jailbreaking, just like Touch ID.