• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechWorld's Most Admired Companies

Apple Fixed Bug That Exposed Your Photos and Contacts

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 5, 2016, 12:46 PM ET
iPhone 6S Review: Come For The New Features, Stay For The Screaming Speed
An Apple Inc. iPhone 6S smartphone is displayed for a photograph in New York, U.S., on Monday, Sept. 21, 2015. 3D Touch is a pressure-sensitive layer thats been added to the iPhone's display, allowing you to access shortcuts and previews when you press down on an icon or link. Photographer: Chris Goodney/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPhotograph by Chris Goodney — Bloomberg via Getty Images

Well, that was quick.

Earlier on Tuesday, reports surfaced saying that a bug in what appeared to be iOS 9 would have allowed hackers to access an iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus owner’s contacts and photos. But that has issue has since been fixed.

When users now try to use the hack published recently on YouTube, they’ll find that Apple’s (AAPL) virtual personal assistant Siri now asks them to unlock their device first. Previously, Siri would allow access to a person’s contacts and photos after users exploited a flaw in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

As part of the latest fix, when users attempt to retrace the steps that would allow hackers access to their photos and contacts, Siri rebuffs the request. Rather than simply allowing a person to search Twitter (TWTR) from the lock screen, Siri says he or she will “need to unlock your iPhone first.” The would-be hacker, therefore, would be required to either use Touch ID or input the iPhone owner’s code to unlock the device.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

According to those who discovered the bug, a would-be hacker could hold a locked iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus and ask Siri to search Twitter. From there, the user would ask Siri to find email addresses by saying “gmail.com” or “yahoo.com.” Upon tapping on an email address in the results displayed in the lock screen, users could gain access to a person’s contacts and photos. The feature is believed to have only affected iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s users because those devices offer 3D Touch, a feature that gives users additional features when they vary how hard they press down on the display.

While initial reports and claims from the bug’s discoverers said that the issue was an iOS 9 glitch, it turns out it was a Siri problem. On Tuesday morning, after seeing the rash of reports on the issue, Apple issued an update to Siri fixing the problem. Therefore, users who were previously subject to the issue are now safe and do not require a software update to get the fix.

For more about iOS 9.3, watch:

Siri is a virtual personal assistant Apple launched in 2011. While the platform is designed to help users perform tasks, search content, and more by “talking” to the virtual assistant, it has been panned in the past for not responding well enough to queries. Siri has also been the brunt of many jokes when the assistant becomes confused by seemingly simple commands.

For its part, Apple has worked to improve Siri and add new features. Since Siri is cloud-based, Apple can make the changes in the background without requiring users to update their software. That is precisely what Apple did on Tuesday.

And to its credit, Apple delivered the fix quite quickly. In fact, even those who seemingly would’ve otherwise not been affected by the issue will receive the same request to unlock the device before being able to search Siri from the lock screen.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hsHzk9YFwc]

Apple declined comment on its fix.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

sternfels
CommentaryConsulting
AI makes human intelligence more important, not less 
By Bob Sternfels and Lucy PerezJanuary 22, 2026
3 hours ago
Building with a Deloitte company sign
Future of WorkConsulting
Deloitte to scrap traditional job titles as AI ushers in a ‘modernization’ of the Big Four
By Jake AngeloJanuary 22, 2026
3 hours ago
NewslettersEye on AI
OpenAI’s former head of sales is entering VC. She still calls herself an ‘AGI sherpa’
By Sharon GoldmanJanuary 22, 2026
4 hours ago
David Sacks gestures during a speech outside the White House
AITech
America could ‘lose the AI race’ because of too much ‘pessimism,’ White House AI czar David Sacks says
By Tristan BoveJanuary 22, 2026
4 hours ago
Elon Musk, in front of a blue "World Economic Forum" background, puts his hand to his mouth.
EnergyDavos
Elon Musk warns the U.S. could soon be producing more chips than we can turn on. And China doesn’t have the same issue
By Sasha RogelbergJanuary 22, 2026
4 hours ago
maduro
CybersecurityVenezuela
America hacked Venezuela’s grid to literally turn off the lights on Jan. 3. It could happen here, too
By Saman Zonouz and The ConversationJanuary 22, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
AI
Elon Musk says that in 10 to 20 years, work will be optional and money will be irrelevant thanks to AI and robotics
By Sasha RogelbergJanuary 19, 2026
3 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Jamie Dimon says he’d have no issue paying higher taxes if it actually went to people who need it. Right now it just goes to the Washington ‘swamp’
By Eleanor PringleJanuary 21, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Politics
Jamie Dimon tells Davos: ‘You didn’t do a particularly good job making the world a better place’
By Eleanor PringleJanuary 21, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says ‘a lot’ of six-figure jobs in plumbing and construction are about to be unlocked because someone needs to build all these new AI centers
By Preston ForeJanuary 21, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Scott Bessent insists he’s ‘not concerned at all’ about investors selling America—despite the fact it’s unraveled tariffs before
By Eleanor PringleJanuary 21, 2026
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Billionaire Marc Andreessen spends 3 hours a day listening to podcasts and audiobooks—that’s nearly an entire 24-hour day each week
By Preston ForeJanuary 20, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.