Apple Denies Looking at Users' iMessages

Beijing, October 18th - In response to reports that iMessages have security vulnerabilities, Apple denied the claims on Friday, stating that iMessages is a secure communication tool.

iMessages is a feature embedded in the iOS system, allowing users to send text messages, pictures, videos, or contact information via WiFi or cellular networks to other iOS users or user groups.

French security company Quarkslab stated on Thursday that messages sent through iMessages could potentially be decrypted and read by Apple. However, in June this year, Apple had claimed that the iMessages system uses an "end-to-end encryption" protection mechanism, which even Apple itself "cannot decrypt the data."

Quarkslab, however, pointed out that the vulnerability of iMessages lies in the encryption keys, which Apple can change at any time, thereby gaining access to the content of iMessages.

An Apple spokesperson responded by saying: "By design, iMessage does not allow Apple to read iMessages content." In a statement, Apple said: "Quarkslab's research report only discusses theoretical vulnerabilities, which would require Apple to redesign the iMessage system in order to exploit these so-called vulnerabilities, but there is no plan or intention to do so."

Of course, Quarkslab did not claim that Apple has already read users' iMessage information, but rather that the current iMessage system is not a perfect secure communication system. (By Ming Li)