In Apple CEO Tim Cook's first interview regarding the issue, he said that there was no lax attitude on security in Apple's part that allowed hackers to obtain nude pictures of several celebrities through their iCloud accounts.
Nevertheless, Apple is currently planning additional security measures to protect user accounts from hackers.
According to Cook, the iCloud accounts of the victimized celebrities were cracked by hackers by giving the correct answers to the security questions of the accounts to acquire the passwords, or by utilizing phishing techniques to acquire the log-in credentials.
Cook added that none of the leaked log-in credentials were obtained from the servers of Apple.
In order to prevent similar hacks in the future, Cook said that Apple will begin sending alert emails and push notifications to iCloud users when anyone attempts to modify the password of the account, restore the data on the account to another device, or logs in to an iCloud account with a device for the first time.
Before, users only got email notifications when someone attempts to change the account's password or logs into the iCloud account for the first time using an unknown Apple device.
Apple said that the additional notifications will be implemented within two weeks, and will alert users to hacking activities instantly, allowing them to react right away through changing the account's password or alerting the security team of Apple.
However, Cook added that perhaps the most important change that needs to be made is not in the technology of Apple, but in its interactions with its users.
Cook said that Apple may have put in more work in creating awareness among users on the dangers of hacking activities, and the importance of using very strong and safe passwords.
"When I step back from this terrible scenario that happened and say what more could we have done, I think about the awareness piece," Cook said. "I think we have a responsibility to ratchet that up. That's not really an engineering thing."
Responding to criticisms on Apple that the company has not focused enough on product security, Cook pointed to Apple's Touch ID, which is the fingerprint sensor found on the iPhone 5S that allows phone unlocking and purchase authorization, as a counterexample.
Cook also added that the company will expand its usage of the two-factor authentication security system that requires users, and hackers, two of either a password, a four-digit code and a long access key given to users when they sign up to iCloud, to access the account.
Apple said that it is currently working with the authorities on the investigation of the leaked celebrity images incident.
