News

Malicious websites that hacked into iPhones over 2-year period targeted Uyghur Muslims in China: Report

A number of malicious websites that were recently reported to have been secretly hacking into iPhones over a two-year period were in fact targeting Uyghur Muslims, Zack Whittaker of TechCrunch reports today.

Android and Windows users were also targeted in the same watering hole attacks affecting iPhone users, Thomas Brewster later reported at Forbes.

The entity which would be presumed most likely behind such an attack is the government of China, or an entity working for the government’s interests — so there’s been much speculation the attacker is China.

Zack Whittaker@zackwhittaker · Sep 1, 2019

Exclusive: Malicious websites used to quietly hack into iPhones over the past two years was an effort by China to target Uyghur Muslims. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com

Zack Whittaker@zackwhittaker

Some questions remain. Exactly what the FBI’s role in this remains unknown. And were Android users also targeted by the same campaign?613:25 AM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy21 people are talking about this

But no proof in the code found. And some doubt it was China.

Good reporting by Techcrunch here. Not PR for Apple or China, or conspiracy mongering.

Read the TechCrunch article, and check out some of the analysis on Twitter below from infosec folks.

[via Techmeme, images: Shutterstock]

Zack Whittaker@zackwhittakerReplying to @zackwhittaker

New: @iblametom has confirmed that Android and Windows users were *also* targeted in the same watering hole attacks affecting iPhone users. https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/09/01/iphone-hackers-caught-by-google-also-targeted-android-and-microsoft-windows-say-sources/ …iPhone Hackers Caught By Google Also Targeted Android And Microsoft Windows, Say SourcesThe unprecedented attack on Apple iPhones last week was broader than first thought. There could be many more victims using Microsoft software too.forbes.com717:05 PM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy61 people are talking about this

Zack Whittaker@zackwhittaker · Sep 1, 2019

Exclusive: Malicious websites used to quietly hack into iPhones over the past two years was an effort by China to target Uyghur Muslims. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com

Daniel Cuthbert@dcuthbert

I’m going to be the odd one here and say this isn’t right. So far China has had complete control of the Uyghurs using physical means and coercion. Their entire lives are controlled so why go this route when you will get burned (china doesn’t like people knowing internal stuff)116:48 PM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Daniel Cuthbert’s other Tweets

Zack Whittaker@zackwhittaker · Sep 1, 2019

Exclusive: Malicious websites used to quietly hack into iPhones over the past two years was an effort by China to target Uyghur Muslims. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com

Robert Rutledge@rerutled

I cannot find anywhere in this article *any* sourcing for the assertion the hack was by China, or to target Uyghur Muslims.

* Did someone on Project Zero *say* that? Not in the article.
* Was there some content in the notice which *says* that?

Where did you get this from?53:58 PM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Robert Rutledge’s other Tweets

Matt Suiche@msuiche

Uyghur muslims, the poortest ethnic group in China, running around with shinny new iPhones? Plus they are already under heavy surveillance.

The Chinese already make them install spyware by force. See 2017 story: https://mashable.com/2017/07/21/china-spyware-xinjiang/ … https://twitter.com/riskybusiness/status/1168368900519497730 …China forces its Muslim minority to install spyware on their phonesThe instruction was sent out to residents in Xinjiang, home to millions of Muslim people.mashable.comPatrick Gray@riskybusinessOk, so back to infosec now: @zackwhittaker published a s story claiming those ZOMG iOS 0day chains were being used by the Chinese government to target Uyghur muslims. There are doubters, but his story lines up with what I’ve heard as well. Just sayin’..https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur/ …126:47 AM – Sep 2, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Matt Suiche’s other Tweets

Patrick Gray@riskybusiness

Ok, so back to infosec now: @zackwhittaker published a s story claiming those ZOMG iOS 0day chains were being used by the Chinese government to target Uyghur muslims. There are doubters, but his story lines up with what I’ve heard as well. Just sayin’..https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur/ …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com156:43 AM – Sep 2, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Patrick Gray’s other Tweets

MalwareTech@MalwareTechBlog · Sep 1, 2019Replying to @MalwareTechBlog

Update: rumor is it was China targeting Uighur Muslims. An authoritarian government targeting dissidents was the most likely explanation, though my first guess would have been a gulf state. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur/ …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com

Barry Dorrans@blowdart

I wonder if telemetry doesn’t make it out of China. Remember all the cloud hosting there is ran by a Chinese company under license.73:40 AM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee Barry Dorrans’s other Tweets

Neil Cybart@neilcybart

This TechCrunch article on new developments related to the iPhone hacks via malicious websites is a well-written piece. Genuine reporting. No sensational boilerplate language about Apple. No hidden agenda. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur/ …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com203:38 PM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy16 people are talking about this

Thomas Brewster@iblametom

New – iPhone Hackers Caught By Google Also Targeted Android And Microsoft Windows, Say Sourceshttps://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2019/09/01/iphone-hackers-caught-by-google-also-targeted-android-and-microsoft-windows-say-sources/ …iPhone Hackers Caught By Google Also Targeted Android And Microsoft Windows, Say SourcesThe unprecedented attack on Apple iPhones last week was broader than first thought. There could be many more victims using Microsoft software too.forbes.com846:58 PM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy85 people are talking about this

Neil Cybart@neilcybart

This TechCrunch article on new developments related to the iPhone hacks via malicious websites is a well-written piece. Genuine reporting. No sensational boilerplate language about Apple. No hidden agenda. https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/31/china-google-iphone-uyghur/ …Sources say China used iPhone hacks to target Uyghur Muslims – TechCrunchA number of malicious websites used to hack into iPhones over a two-year period were targeting Uyghur Muslims, TechCrunch has learned. Sources familiar with the matter said the websites were part of…techcrunch.com203:38 PM – Sep 1, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy16 people are talking about this

SHARE / TWEET / 2 COMMENTS

CHINA / HACKED / HACKS / IPHONE / MALWARE / PWNED / UIGHUR / UIGHURS

GET THE BOING BOING NEWSLETTER 

Robotic bird inspired by seagull steals show at World Robot Conference in China

The fifth annual World Robot Conference was open to the public in Beijing last Thursday, August 22, and this bionic flying bird based on a herring gull was one of the more spectacular sights. Other robots on show at the annual event in China included robo-superheroes, and Taiji-playing robots. Rough cut of video from Reuters […]

READ THE REST

China’s using LinkedIn to recruit spies… again

I don’t think that I’ve ever met anyone that actually enjoys using LinkedIn. I mean sure, depending on what you do for a living, it might help you land a new gig. Maybe, it can help you to network with folks within your industry. But it’s awful. On the occasions where I need to use […]

READ THE REST

Trump and Tim Cook had dinner, Trump says Apple CEO made ‘very compelling argument’ to help Apple get richer

Illegitimate, popular vote losing, and manifestly unfit United States President Donald Trump said on Monday that at a recent dinner with Tim Cook — what, you didn’t think they hung out and shared meals? — the Apple CEO made a “very compelling argument” that Apple may lose its competitive edge to Samsung because of Trump’s […]

READ THE REST

Save an extra 15% on these Bluetooth speakers and headphones

Just in time for your songs of the summer playlist, we’ve got a roundup of headphones, speakers, and earbuds. The best part? They’re all 15% off the already discounted price. Just use the online code SAVE15SOUND to take the extra savings off the final listed cost. Owlee Scroll Wireless Bluetooth Speaker No matter how big […]

READ THE REST

Get early Labor Day savings on these unique home accessories

Your home is your castle, but that doesn’t mean it has to be cold and stony. The summer is almost over, and that means the Labor Day sales are nigh. Here are 10 essential home accessories you never knew you needed, and you can take 15% off the final price (including any stated discounts). Just […]

READ THE REST

Get trained in platforms like Oracle, Microsoft Azure, and AWS

Need to expand your IT know-how? It doesn’t happen overnight – but there are courses out there that can get you there quickly. Big businesses need the security, storage, and flexibility that cloud computing can provide, and they need competent IT professionals that know their way around those systems. Here are three online training packages [

Show More

admin

www.doguturkistander.org
Back to top button
Close