“It’s not a bug; it’s a feature!”

If you’re one of the people using FaceTime and you haven’t disabled it yet, you might want to. According to 9to5Mac, the app has a major bug that can affect your security. Namely, it will let people listen in on whatever you’re doing regardless of whether you accept or reject the call. The steps to replicate the bug from their article:

Here’s how to do the iPhone FaceTime bug:
– Start a FaceTime Video call with an iPhone contact.
– Whilst the call is dialling, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap Add Person.
– Add your own phone number in the Add Person screen.
– You will then start a group FaceTime call including yourself and the audio of the person you originally called, even if they haven’t accepted the call yet.

9to5Mac

Oh, but it gets worse. The bug is compounded by another. If the recipent hits the power or volume buttons to reject the call while the group call is running, the device will start sending both audio and video from the phone’s front facing camera. Luckily, Buzzfeed News (I can’t believe I’m typing these words) has found that activating Do Not Disturb mode at least mitigates the microphone aspect of that bug.

But it doesn’t end there. No, apparently the bug is even worse when a Mac computer is being called.

We have also replicated the problem with an iPhone calling a Mac. By default, the Mac rings for longer than a phone so it can act as a bug for an even longer duration.

9to5Mac

Apple stated that they would be patching the issue sometime later this week. That said, it may be for the best to disable FaceTime completely until then. Currently, however, Apple seems to be in the process of disabling Group FaceTime features ahead of any security update:

Source: Gizmodo

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B. Simmons

Based out of Glendale California, Bryan is a GAMbIT’s resident gaming contributor. Specializing in PC and portable gaming, you can find Bryan on his 3DS playing Monster Hunter or at one of the various conventions throughout the state.

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