Apple Fixes 911 Vulnerability in iOS 10.3

Ryan Knutson, reporting for The Wall Street Journal:

Among the changes in an iPhone software update Apple Inc. released this week: a fix aimed at preventing cyberattacks on 911 centers in the U.S.

The vulnerability was exposed in October after an 18-year-old in Arizona allegedly designed code that would cause iPhones to repeatedly dial 911. A link to the code went viral on Twitter, as teenagers began sharing it as a prank.

The incident, which was detailed in a Wall Street Journal article, resulted in thousands of accidental 911 calls, overwhelming operators in at least a dozen states across the U.S.

★ Friday, 31 March 2017