Apple Disables Group FaceTime After Discovery of Privacy Bug

A bug that allows you to hear audio from another person's phone has been found.

facetime bug
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BERLIN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 14: The Logo of videotelephony product FaceTime is displayed on a smartphone on December 14, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

facetime bug

A worrying bug that impacts people with iPhones has been found. It allows a user to listen into another person's phone even if they don't pick up. 

Now you can answer for yourself on FaceTime even if they don’t answer🤒#Apple explain this.. pic.twitter.com/gr8llRKZxJ

All a person has to do to listen in is make a FaceTime call, and while the phone is ringing, swipe up to add another person. From there, you add yourself to the call. This will start a Group FaceTime call with the person even if they don't pick up. 

1. Start a FaceTime video call.
2. While it's still ringing, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and click "Add Person."
3. Add your own phone number to the call.

You'll now be able to hear the microphone from the other device, even if the owner is nowhere nearby.

To protect yourself from the breach, head to the settings section of your iPhone and make sure to toggle off the FaceTime feature. 

nightmare bug. turn off FaceTime nowhttps://t.co/67OTjM90Qn pic.twitter.com/WDZgexEBz9

Shortly after news of the bug began to make the rounds, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo commented on the frightening development. "The FaceTime bug is an egregious breach of privacy that puts New Yorkers at risk," Governor Cuomo said in a statement. "In New York, we take consumer rights very seriously and I am deeply concerned by this irresponsible bug that can be exploited for unscrupulous purposes."

MORE: NY Gov. Cuomo issues “consumer alert” on Apple FaceTime bug, calling for users to “temporarily disable the app until Apple issues a fix.” https://t.co/j1YZcXAO8E pic.twitter.com/UxCaYqpsGw

"We're aware of this issue and we have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week," an Apple spokesperson toldCNBC

Me trying to make sure my Facetime is completely turned off 👀 pic.twitter.com/volBgNvxEd

Apple has since reportedly disabled Group FaceTime.

Apple says it has taken Group FaceTime offline in attempt to resolve calling exploit https://t.co/Y8yeHVFP5k by @ChanceHMiller pic.twitter.com/iHzRJO2hJE

Stay tuned for more potential information on an update that deads this glitch for good.

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