Unsettling Cybersecurity Developments: FBI Warns of Vulnerabilities in iPhone and Android Messaging Systems

FBI Hacking Warning—More Bad News For iPhone, Android Users

This month has been marked by extraordinary revelations that Chinese state-linked hackers have been ravaging through U.S. networks, plundering user call and text metadata, and in some cases their content as well. The consequence – an unprecedented warning from the FBI for Android and iPhone users to cease sending texts.

The backdrop to this story is the equally remarkable iPhone messaging update that has finally brought RCS to Apple’s billion-plus users. While Google touted this as “no more blurry photos,” that has been quickly eclipsed by events. I highlighted RCS’s security weaknesses before, during, and after Apple’s release, but now the FBI has ensured that everyone is fully cognizant that it is indeed a case.

The defense has been that an end-to-end encrypted RCS update is forthcoming soon. However, the new unpleasantness for Android and iPhone users is that this security update will not be seen anytime in the near future. “Work with key industry stakeholders is progressing well,” according to a GSMA spokesperson cited by CNBC, “and we look forward to updating the market in the coming months.”

This has been painted as surprisingly bad news. “Despite FBI Warning, RCS encryption could take months,” PC Mag reported. Android Authority warned, “Android and Apple users—critical RCS messaging protection is still months away despite FBI warning.” All of which means that, explained Tom’s Guide, “Apple and Android users… should look to other chat apps to communicate.”

In essence, this is entirely predictable. As I reported when GSMA and Google first promoted an end-to-end encrypted RCS update, but now the FBI has ensured everyone is fully aware that it is indeed the case.

The clock is ticking.

Source: http://www.forbes.com