Hackers can hijack iPhones remotely: Apple advises disabling AirPlay

Hackers can hijack iPhones remotely: Apple has issued an urgent advisory for millions of its users, urging them to update their iPhones and disable the AirPlay feature due to critical security flaws. The vulnerability, dubbed “AirBorne” by Tel Aviv-based cybersecurity firm Oligo, allows hackers to hijack compatible devices on the same Wi-Fi network, as reported by the New York Post.

AirPlay, a feature enabling iPhone users to stream audio and video to smart devices like TVs, has 23 reported vulnerabilities. These flaws exist within Apple’s AirPlay protocol and the AirPlay Software Development Kit (SDK), which third-party vendors use to ensure AirPlay compatibility. Oligo CTO Gal Elbaz highlighted the widespread risk, stating that many devices will take years to patch, if ever, due to these vulnerabilities in a single piece of software.

The “AirBorne” flaw facilitates “zero-click attacks,” allowing hackers to remotely access devices, deploy malware, and steal data without any user interaction.

To mitigate these risks, users are advised to disable AirPlay receivers in their device settings and restrict access to ‘Current User’. Installing security software on Apple devices can also help reduce the dangers posed by AirPlay’s continuous background broadcasting.

This isn’t the first time Apple has issued such warnings recently. In February, the company addressed “extremely sophisticated” attacks that could potentially disable USB Restricted Mode on locked devices. Apple acknowledged that this vulnerability might have been exploited in targeted attacks. USB Restricted Mode, a security feature introduced in iOS 11.4.1, prevents locked devices from leaking data to connected accessories via USB-C or Lightning ports.

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