In light of hackers hacking their way into Apple’s iCloud storage service and stealing nude celebrity photos, the company plans to roll out new security features to avert any future burst in its cloud service.
The company announced on Thursday that it will reinforce security measures by using e-mails and push notifications to alert users to attempted break-in activities.
Apple also plans to increase the number of steps in the process of authenticating users’ accounts.
Until now, users got an email when someone tried to change a password or log in for the first time from an unknown Apple device; there were no notifications for restoring iCloud data.
Speaking to the press on the subject for the first time since the iCloud malfunction, Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said celebrities’ iCloud accounts were compromised when hackers correctly answered security questions to obtain their passwords, or when they were victimized by a phishing scam to obtain user IDs and passwords.
He said none of the Apple IDs and passwords leaked from the company’s servers.
Apple also told The Wall Street Journal that it plans to start sending the notifications in two weeks. It said the new system will allow users to take action immediately, including changing the password to retake control of the account, or alerting Apple’s security team.
According to the report, Mr. Cook said the most important measures to prevent future intrusions might be more human than technological.
In particular, he said Apple could have done more to make people aware of the dangers of hackers trying to target their accounts or the importance of creating stronger and safer passwords.
“When I step back from this terrible scenario that happened and say what more could we have done, I think about the awareness piece,” he said. “I think we have a responsibility to ratchet that up. That’s not really an engineering thing.”
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