We know that Apple is offering special iPhones to some security researchers who are looking for a big payday that could add up to $1.5 million. The first prize will go to the researcher who finds a flaw in the iPhone and iOS that will allow a hacker to take full control of an iPhone without the owner of the phone having to touch any part of the device. That discovery is pretty good for $1 million. Any vulnerabilities detected in the beta software will reward the researcher with a 50% bonus. This is because the discovery is taking place before the software spreads to the public.
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To help researchers find flaws in iOS, a company called Corellium has offered them a virtual version of iPhone and iOS in recent years. According to Bloomberg, Apple is not making this decision and has filed a lawsuit with the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida for what it calls “a direct case of violation of valuable copyrighted works”. Apple notes that without obtaining a license or authorization, Corellium offers a “virtual” version of Apple devices with “complete attention to detail”. The technology giant says the facsimile not only looks and responds the same way in a web browser on the mobile device for which its customers pay, but Corellium also includes the appropriate computer code.
And of course, one could say that Corellium is doing Apple a great favor by selling the virtual iPhone. Because it will help researchers pass on their results to Apple. However, as Apple points out in the lawsuit, those who paid to use the virtual iPhone ended up selling faults discovered to third-party exploiters. This makes sense because a private installation of the virtual iPhone costs up to $1 million according to the judicial documents presented by Apple.
Corellium Subscribers Can Choose The Apple iPhone Model And The iOS Version They Want To Run Virtually
Apple says that at the Black Hat security conference that took place earlier this month. Corellium specifically stressed that its Apple Product is an exact copy of Apple’s copyrighted work. It was created to help researchers and hackers to test iOS vulnerabilities. It also points out that 15 days after presenting iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max. And as well as iPhone XR on September 12, 2018. Corellium announced that its product was compatible with new phones and the latest version of iOS.
An image included in the case shows how Corellium subscribers can even choose. Which virtual iPhone they want to use and then select the version of iOS they want to run on it. Once a subscriber has created a virtual iPhone, it is possible to make copies of the virtual device. And the selected iOS version. Apple claims that Corellium servers contain “numerous copies of iOS”.
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Apple requests a permanent court order against Corellium. And an order that prevents the company from marketing, selling and distributing its Apple product. The company also wants to prevent all subscribers from using the virtual iPhone. And wants the defendant to issue a warning to current and former subscribers. By telling them that the use of the product violates Apple’s copyright. Apple also wants all the infringing material destroyed and asks for damages, lost profits, court costs and legal fees.
(Via: Bloomberg)
