A new analysis of Apple's iOS operating system is revealing insight about how the operating system can be used for surveillance by third parties.
The revelations by a security expert show what appears to be access to the operating system's diagnostics, which allow hackers to enter another person's device and track what they are doing.
It is the latest reporting being done on privacy issues in light of last year's whistleblower Edward Snowden revealing a massive amount of information on the National Security Agency's surveillance of American and foreign citizens on a daily basis.
This time, Jonathan Zdziarski shows the majority of iThing owners are not aware of the loose protection means that Apple has implemented.
Zdziarski is a data forensics expert and published the academic paper that revealed the flaw in the iOS last March.
A recent speech he delivered at the Hackers on Planet Earth conference in New York has sparked the media frenzy over the issue.
"There are certain steps that have to be taken to get this data," Zdziarski said. "Backdoors are guarded, there are things protecting it -- you don't just type 'Joshua' for full access."
Many critics of Zdziarski argue that he is claiming that Apple worked with the NSA to deliver information on the general population. The academic vehemently dispels this idea.
"Before the journalists blow this way out of proportion, this was a talk I gave to a room full of hackers ... how some features in iOS have evolved over the PAST FEW YEARS, and of course a number of companies have taken advantage of some of the capabilities," he said. "I have NOT accused Apple of working with NSA, however I suspect (based on released documents) that some of these services MAY have been used by NSA to collect data on potential targets."
With privacy issues becoming a major tipping point in the tech world and among society after numerous major websites were hacked earlier this year, including eBay, this issue is unlikely to subside in the near future. More and more people are yearning for better protection of their data and personal lives.
