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Apple Responds to UDID Leak, Says Did Not Provide Data to FBI

Wednesday September 5, 2012 11:04 am PDT by Eric Slivka
AllThingsD reports that Apple has issued a statement responding to this week's leak of one million unique device identifiers (UDIDs) for iOS devices, noting that it did not provide the FBI with the information. An FBI computer was claimed by the hackers to be the source of the information, but the FBI has denied any involvement in the situation.
“The FBI has not requested this information from Apple, nor have we provided it to the FBI or any organization. Additionally, with iOS 6 we introduced a new set of APIs meant to replace the use of the UDID and will soon be banning the use of UDID,” Apple spokesperson Natalie Kerris told AllThingsD.
With the AntiSec hackers claiming to be in possession of 12 million UDIDs as well as additional personal information tied to some of the numbers, it remains unclear exactly where the data came from.


Apple has been working to phase out use of the UDID, creating new tools to allow developers to track usage of their apps on a per-device basis. With the UDID being a universal identifier, it has been used by advertisers and others to collect information across apps and other usage to develop user profiles for marketing persons, and Apple's new system will seek to improve user privacy.

[ 68 comments ]


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Battlefield Fan
84 months ago
Why am I not surprised the FBI denied any involvement?:rolleyes:
Rating: 12 Votes
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50548
84 months ago

The FBI denied the whole thing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/9522079/FBI-denies-being-source-of-stolen-Apple-IDs.html


This is the US of A, after all, the "land of the free" with Patriot Acts galore.

A classic case of "plausible deniability" - what else would they say to the public? Or do you think agencies like the CIA also admit publicly to having secret prisons all over the world?

"Oh yes, we got this information as part of our secret national security efforts"?

Gimme a break, Sirs. Hackers are the harmless factor here; it's the FBI and other illegally-mandated agencies that have a lot to respond to the usually-benighted US citizens. And I am sure we will still read here some supportive comments stating that "No problem, they must have had some fine reason for doing so; after all, they fight every day to save our poor lives".
Rating: 7 Votes
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Flood123
84 months ago

That is my best guess as well. If the FBI nor Apple had anything to do with it, the next logical source would be an app developer. Which now leads us to wonder what app(s) specifically could be the source.


Facebook
Rating: 6 Votes
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charlieegan3
84 months ago
so how did they get the data if apple didn't give it to them?

Glad to hear a new system is in the works.
Rating: 4 Votes
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ericrwalker
84 months ago

so how did they get the data if apple didn't give it to them?

Glad to hear a new system is in the works.


Wikileaks? lol :D
Rating: 4 Votes
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Flood123
84 months ago

I 've the feeling you are right! :)


1)They are the number one downloaded app of all time.
2)they have so much personal data of yours that it will make your head spin.

Imagine facial recognition software. Now imagine it with a database of self varified(tagged)photos in their system. We gave them everything they needed to create profiles on all of us. I am completely aware of how conspiracy theorist this sounds. I'm my opinion, Facebook is very dangerous. If I knew then what I know now I would never have signed up for an account. We basically gave them the keys to the castle.
It might not be facebook directly. Maybe an employee collecting information for different agencies.

<joke>maybe it's ancient aliens</joke>
Rating: 4 Votes
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Piggie
84 months ago
On the other hand, would Apple publicly say, "Yeah, we gave the FBI 12,000,000 UDIS's ?

"WE" Shall never know.

Unless the FBI steps in and owns up, if you think that would happen?
Rating: 3 Votes
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canucksfan88
84 months ago
so we are all believing apple when they deny this...:rolleyes:
Rating: 3 Votes
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bananasquiddly
84 months ago

A classic case of "plausible deniability" - what else would they say to the public? Or do you think agencies like the CIA also admit publicly to having secret prisons all over the world?


Except for the fact that AntiSec has presented literally zero evidence that the UDIDs were actually taken from an FBI agent's computer.

I like to harbor a healthy skepticism about what my government says, as well, but that doesn't mean I'll believe a claim from an anonymous hacker with absolutely nothing to back it up.
Rating: 3 Votes
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SeattleMoose
84 months ago
Whaddya Expect?

If the government says they are NOT spying on us, then I for one believe them. Baaaahhhhhhhh!!!! ;)
Rating: 2 Votes

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