Apple, Govt Set Up Tech Teams To Probe 'State-Sponsored Attack'

Apple and the central government have set up technical teams to examine messages that the tech giant sent to several opposition politicians and journalists warning that their iPhones may have been targeted for “state-sponsored attacks", said a top official, asking not to be named.

- Gulveen Aulakh

The official added that Apple had agreed to be part of the investigation that the government was launching after protests by the recipients of the message.

“Technical teams to look into the issue have been assembled by both sides. Apple is cooperating, they have accepted the communication we have sent them on the matter," the official said.

Asked whether the issue would be examined by the parliamentary standing committee on information technology, the official said that the aim would be to determine the root cause even before the government or Apple are asked to appear before the committee.

“We’re already looking into this, there were some vulnerabilities that Cert-In (Indian computer emergency response team) had flagged. They will investigate -- it should be resolved quickly, even before the committee calls," the official added.

Queries to Apple and the ministry of electronics and information technology remained unanswered at press time. The government said on Wednesday it will investigate the notifications sent by Apple to several users, including opposition members of Parliament, claiming state sponsored attackers were potentially attempting to compromise their iPhones using their Apple email ID.