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

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.

ipad udid
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.

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Top Rated Comments

Battlefield Fan Avatar
167 months ago
Why am I not surprised the FBI denied any involvement?:rolleyes:
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
50548 Avatar
167 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".
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flood123 Avatar
167 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
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Flood123 Avatar
167 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>
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ericrwalker Avatar
167 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
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
charlieegan3 Avatar
167 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.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)