Local woman finds glitch in Apple device that allows user to spy on caller

A local woman told Action News Jax she was a victim allows a bug affecting Apple devices that allows users to listen in on people they call via FaceTime without the person picking up.

Apple Inc. is rushing to fix the major privacy glitch in the FaceTime app.

The bug allows callers to hear audio from the recipient’s device while the FaceTime call is still ringing. A local woman is among the thousands who experiencing the glitch.

“I was so shocked because I honestly thought she just found out, so maybe only a few random people knew and to think it’s been happening everywhere,” Lynnette Hawkins said. “The question: How long has it been going on?”

Hawkins said her goddaughter called her via FaceTime on Monday evening. Although Hawkins did not answer the call, she said her goddaughter was able to hear Hawkins’ conversations.

STORY: FaceTime bug on Apple devices allows people to eavesdrop on you

“Then she just yelled, ‘Ma!’ I looked down and I said, ‘Did I answer you?’ She said, ‘No there’s a glitch and I heard about it and I wanted to see if it was true.’ She said, 'I hear everything you guys are saying.'”

When you are using the FaceTime app to call another Apple device the app gives and option to add another phone number to the conversation. If the caller adds the same phone number they are calling from, it activates a glitch in the system.

“I was so mad,” Hawkins said. “I was looking on Apple to see if there was anything about the glitch but I didn’t see it, so I said, 'I’m going to call Action News.'”

After the glitch went viral, Apple issued a statement which acknowledging it. The firm said it will be issuing a fix later this week.

Action News Jax found a way to protect your privacy until Apple fixes the glitch. Go to your phone’s settings, find the FaceTime app and disable it.

“Everyone says I’m a pessimist and paranoid. Now I’m proven valid,” Hawkins said. “Ironically, I was always an Android lover, and this was absolutely my last time (to use an Apple device). Now I’ll be trading it in.”

Cox Media Group