How 'Fortnite' led to the Apple FaceTime bug discovery

SALT LAKE CITY — In a tech crossover moment, it turns out that "Fortnite" led to the discovery of the FaceTime bug plaguing the country.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a 14-year-old boy discovered the FaceTime bug earlier this month and tried to warn Apple about it.

Context: On Tuesday, a newly discovered Apple FaceTime software bug causes an issue where people can see the people they are calling before the person answers the phone, according to my report for the Deseret News.

• As CNN explains, "When the bug is activated, the person who initiated the call is able to hear the live audio on the other person's phone, even though the recipient has not accepted the call. And their screen gives no indication that their conversation is being transmitted. In some cases, the bug can also show live video of the other person if they press a volume button to dismiss the call."

The boy said he discovered the problem when he was trying to create a conversation with his friends during a "Fortnite" gaming session.

His mother, Michele Thompson, wrote about the problem on social media at first, under the username @MGT7500.

She tried to attract the attention of Apple's Support team and Fox News.

My teen found a major security flaw in Apple's new iOS. He can listen in to your iPhone/iPad without your approval. I have video. Submitted bug report to @AppleSupport...waiting to hear back to provide details. Scary stuff! #apple #bugreport @foxnews

— MGT7 (@MGT7500) January 21, 2019

John H. Meyer, a Twitter user who found Thompson's tweet after the bug went viral, told USA Today that he realized "that she's been trying for a week to bring attention to this by tweeting at Apple and many different news orgs."

• Meyer and Thompson started talking about the problem on Tuesday, which allowed him to further expose the bug, according to USA Today.
• Thompson's mother reportedly reached out to Apple, who wanted them to submit a report as an Apple developer.

VIDEO: Here is a video, recorded & sent to Apple by a 14 yr old & his mom, on JAN 23rd, alerting them to the dangerous #FaceTime bug, that has threatened the privacy of millions. I've removed sensitive / private info on behalf of the mother (an attorney), whom I just spoke to. pic.twitter.com/YIBKXEP3mI

— John H. Meyer (@BEASTMODE) January 29, 2019

Quick facts from my call with the 14 year old's mom:

- Yes, a 14 year old discovered this bug. He did so "around" Saturday, 1/19

- Mother is a local lawyer in AZ and sent a formal notice to Apple on 1/25

- That formal notice the mom sent to Apple on 1/25 is attached pic.twitter.com/RMbXp3huab

— John H. Meyer (@BEASTMODE) January 29, 2019

A quote from the mother of the 14 yr old who discovered the FaceTime bug on 1/19/19… pic.twitter.com/J3JADsq0ku

— John H. Meyer (@BEASTMODE) January 29, 2019

After several emails w/ Apple, they told me I could register as a developer to submit the bug report which I did (even though I'm the farthest thing from a developer). Also emailed it directly to product-security@apple with full details.

— MGT7 (@MGT7500) January 29, 2019

Meyer said he was still surprised at what happened.

• "I thought it was fake at first, before I then successfully replicated the issue by calling my girlfriend. When I learned very early this morning that this was discovered by a 14-year-old, who's mom then spent multiple days trying to bring this to attention at Apple, I was even more surprised (and quite angry)," he told USA Today in a Direct Message.

from Deseret News http://bit.ly/2CYtN5F