The FaceTime bug could also give a caller access to a live feed of the recipient’s camera.
PHOTO: AFP
The bug, initially outlined by Apple product and review website 9to5Mac.com, was reported by several media outlets.
A video posted at Twitter account @BmManski showing how simple it is to take advantage of the flaw and listen in on an iPhone being called using FaceTime logged nearly two million views and was shared 14,000 times by late evening in California.
Some Twitter users offered advice to disable the FaceTime application until a fix was in place.
Apple to produce fewer iPhones over slow demand
An Apple support page listed Group FaceTime calling as "temporarily unavailable" as of 7:16 PM here (03:16 GMT) due to an ongoing "issue" that was not specified.
An Apple statement quoted in US media said the iPhone maker was aware of this issue and has "identified a fix that will be released in a software update later this week."
When a phone number is dialed on FaceTime -- the iPhone's internet-based voice and video calling feature -- the caller can swipe up from the bottom of the screen and tap an option to add a person, according to video demonstrations.
If a caller enters their number as also being the added caller, a group call begins even though the person being called has not answered yet.
The caller can then eavesdrop on the person being called, and in some demonstrations peek through the front-facing camera. Declining a call breaks the connection.
Apple expected to remove 3D touch from new iPhones
"Disable FaceTime for now until Apple fixes," Twitter co-founder and chief executive Jack Dorsey advised in a tweet.
Disable FaceTime for now until Apple fixes https://t.co/FNbPAmZsLf
— jack (@jack) January 29, 2019
Dorsey's message included a forwarded post by technologist Andy Baio.
"Want to see a really bad bug?" Baio asked in his post.
"You can FaceTime any iOS device running 12.1 and listen in remotely-WITHOUT THE OTHER PERSON ANSWERING THE CALL."
Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
FaceTime software enables voice or video calls using iPhones, iPads, iPod Touch, and Macintosh computers.
The sign you are being spied on #facetime pic.twitter.com/RUglA5Im3R
— sebastian dolber (@sepa) January 29, 2019
PLEASE STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING‼️#iPHONE @AppleSupport
THIS FEATURE ON #Facetime LITERARY ALLOWS YOU TO LISTEN TO AN ENTIRE OTHER iPHONE SOUND BOARD, BY TAPPING YOUR PHONE DIRECTLY TO THE CALLER AND YOU CAN LISTEN 2 EVERYTHING‼️#Viral #iPhoneFeds #AppleiPhone #Repost #conspiracy pic.twitter.com/eT62s51HXs
— KAYNO🌋 (@KAYNO_) January 29, 2019
me when i try to ignore someone’s call & they start talking #facetime pic.twitter.com/XJUjXIyqSX
— 🇳🇬 (@candyygrand) January 29, 2019
So, how many unaccepted #Facetime calls are happening right now across the globe?
— lofiGTi (@lofiGTi) January 29, 2019
Out here living dangerously 😎 #facetime #Apple pic.twitter.com/WfzJdmnyTn
— Cris (@viathestars) January 29, 2019
Me on the phone with apple begging them to fix the update #apple #facetime #appleupdate pic.twitter.com/tbZRUn53AN
— 🍁 (@shakiragolden23) January 29, 2019
Me, on my Android phone, reading about the security flaw with #FaceTime affecting all my iPhone friends. Yikes! pic.twitter.com/dQH2PmlOHG
— Liz (@_lizardbird_) January 29, 2019
Done ✅ #FaceTime pic.twitter.com/IdbXeb0GK5
— Fisal Al-shebl 🍪 (@Fisal1001) January 29, 2019
Beware #facetime users. If someone FaceTimes you, answer or decline. DO NOT LET IT RING! They can add you as an additional party to the face time call and it will instantly pick up your end!
— CGary Designs LLC (@CGaryDesigns) January 28, 2019
Friend : #FaceTime calls me
Me : lets it ring
Friend : hey 😌
Me : pic.twitter.com/TTx7vAfgTQ
— KINGXLI (@DayshawnSaunde2) January 29, 2019
When someone is trying to #FaceTime you, and you can't ignore it because of Apple bugs.
I spent 45 minutes on this, and I don't regret it. pic.twitter.com/2XBHKPo3Ta
— David M Sula (@DavidMSula) January 29, 2019
Hey, remember that time @Apple made that privacy themed billboard at CES?
Bahahahahahahaha! #FaceTime @MKBHD @imPatrickT @jacksonhvisuals pic.twitter.com/rmBfoCCwNl
— Gris (@the_gris) January 29, 2019
1718891090-0/AI-(2)1718891090-0-270x192.webp "artists launch blockchain tool to defend creative ownership from ai")
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