- Apple’s security flaw puts crypto users at risk with devices exposed to data theft and digital asset vulnerabilities.
- Cross-site scripting vulnerability affects iOS, iPadOS, and Intel Macs putting cryptocurrency data at risk of theft.
- Apple’s M-series chips have hardware flaws that leak cryptographic keys and cannot be fixed through software updates.
Apple has recently made public an important security issue that may pose threat to the safety of cryptocurrency users and investors, raising concerns from tech and crypto sectors. The bug exists in the Apple JavaScriptCore and WebKit frameworks that handle web content and enables an attacker to run arbitrary code on compromised devices, exposing users’ data at risk – particularly those who use cryptocurrencies.
The company released a security notification for all the affected users to update their devices to prevent the risk. The flaw that has been identified can be characterized as cross-site scripting and was most damaging since it provided potential attackers with access to user data and digital assets. Besides, the vulnerability was also found in iOS and iPadOS, and the issue also concern Intel-based Macs.
Apple Releases Security Update
The problem was first detected by Google’s Threat Analysis Group, which means that attackers may gain access to the data. Jeremiah O’Connor of Trugard, a cybersecurity firm’s Chief Technology Officer, explained the danger of the exploit, explaining “With this flaw, attackers can steal important data, which is bad news for owners of cryptocurrencies.”
In response, Apple quickly released a software update to fix the issue but experts are quick to note that the danger remains. The fix is to the JavaScriptCore issue, but the crypto industry stays focused as more threats continue to appear.
Some of the biggest names within the cryptocurrency community were quick to react to the incident. Changpeng Zhao, ex-CEO at Binance, wrote on X, where he shared the following message with users: “If you are using a MacBook with an Intel-based chip, update as soon as possible.”
New Threats for Crypto Users
Reports have also emerged indicating that Apple’s M-series chips have hardware defects. The researchers identified certain problems with the chips’ prefetching mechanisms whereby cryptographic keys could be leaked. While the software vulnerability in JavaScriptCore can be easily fixed with the help of software patches, these hardware issues cannot be solved with a software update, which is not good news for users of Apple products.
These persistent threats serve only to further illustrate how the distinction between cybersecurity and cryptocurrency is rapidly fading. This means that as digital assets become more popularly used in the market, the issue of protection remains an essential one. The recent security report from Apple shows that both the tech and the crypto industries have to be on high alert for new threats, with crypto users being the most vulnerable.
