Apple Confronted with Fresh Security Worries for iPhone and MacBook
Apple has confirmed a new security flaw that greatly affects older iPhone models and M-series MacBooks. The issue is related to the GPU running on models prior to the iPhone 15 series and Mac M3 models.
Unfortunately, if you’re using last year’s M2-powered Macs, the security flaw is a clear risk, and Apple needs to quickly determine a way to fix the problem for these devices.
The problem with this flaw is that any data processed by the chip can be viewed if an attacker is able to bypass the loophole and gain access to the device.
Another big talking point is that Apple isn’t the only company that has to worry about the bug, as this problem also affects GPUs from Qualcomm, AMD and other manufacturers. The researchers who discovered the problem call it LeftoverLocals because the flaw allows a hacker to read data left over from a previous read. LeftoverLocals sounds like a vague term, but the way it works is correct.
The good news about the bug is that if you recently bought an A17-powered iPhone or an M3-powered Mac, a patch has fixed a potential gateway to this issue.
More importantly, the flaw can only be exploited if an attacker already has access to the machine, which likely happens all the time. Despite this, people should be careful when using and opening their systems, as any attachment can be loaded with malware that can infect the system. And yes, it goes without saying that you should keep your system and operating system up to date to protect them from such flaws.
