• News
• Modojo @ Shacknews

FaceTime glitch in iOS 12.1 bug enables mic and camera before answering

Apple iPhone users might want to disable FaceTime after a glitch is reported to open audio up to anyone calling them.

Asif Khan

January 28, 2019 8:10 PM

1

Apple Inc. is having a rough 2019. Today, a lovely new bug has surfaced on devices running iOS 12.1 or later. People who make FaceTime calls have access to the microphone and camera of the person they are calling. This is not how the service should be functioning and is a huge bug. 

Representatives from Apple have said that they are "aware of this issue and we have identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week." This is a huge breach of privacy, and quite the contrary to the giant CES 2019 advertisment that read, "What happens on your iPhone stays on your iPhone. 

In additional testing, 9to5Mac is also reporting that users have discovered the ability to enable video in devices running iOS 12.1 or later. 

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

— Benji Mobb™ (@BmManski) January 28, 2019

Want to recreate this horrible bug? 

Here’s how to enable the mic and video of the person you are calling on FaceTime:

• Begin a FaceTime Video call
• While the call is still dialing, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Add Person
• Add your own phone number in the Add Person screen
• You will then start a group FaceTime call including yourself and the audio and video of the person you originally called
• Enable video by answering the invitation on another iOS device

The UI will look like the other person has joined the group chat, but on their actual device it will still be ringing on the lockscreen. 

I just replicated the issue - on top of that, if you “join” the call using your invitation on another device (in this case another iPhone) you also get video!! Even though the call is still ringing / not answered on the destination device.

— Jessassin (@Jessassin) January 29, 2019

We recommend that Shackers concerned about this bug disable FaceTime immediately. Apple's iPhone troubles seem to be extending far beyond revenue misses. Apple Inc. (AAPL) reports earnings January 29 after the market closes, and we will hopefully get to hear analysts ask Tim Cook about how much they care about about their users' privacy. 

Asif Khan

CEO/EIC/EIEIO

Asif Khan is the CEO, EIC, and majority shareholder of Shacknews. He began his career in video game journalism as a freelancer in 2001 for Tendobox.com. Asif is a CPA and was formerly an investment adviser representative. After much success in his own personal investments, he retired from his day job in financial services and is currently focused on new private investments. His favorite PC game of all time is Duke Nukem 3D, and he is an unapologetic fan of most things Nintendo. Asif first frequented the Shack when it was sCary's Shugashack to find all things Quake. When he is not immersed in investments or gaming he is a purveyor of fine electronic music. Asif also has an irrational love of Cleveland sports.