
In a statement, Uber spokesman Melanie Ensign said: 'Apple gave us this permission because early versions of Apple Watch were unable to adequately handle the level of map rendering in the Uber app.
Mobile security expert Will Strafach uncovered a special permission granted by Apple that allowed Uber to record the screens of users, even when they weren't using the app.
The entitlement isn't commonly granted, and Uber would have had to get direct permission from Apple in order to implement it.
He told Business Insider that Uber was the only app now available in the App Store which possesses the entitlement coded as 'com.apple.private.allow-explicit-graphics-priority, ' stressing that such a revelation is "very odd", especially as he checked "tens of thousands of other apps". The app is now defending the entitlement by stating that it was being used to improve the performance of its Apple Watch app.
The revelation comes on the heels of a report in the New York Times which claimed that Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook told then Uber chief executive Travis Kalanick that Apple would kick Uber out of the Apple App Store if the ride-hailing company was caught violating any rules.
"This move by Uber and Apple has opened up its users to a massive privacy risk".
'Fast and Furious' spin-off set for 2019 debut
The spinoff will help fill the void left behind by Fast 9 , and also give Universal time to find a director for it. And this is all just in the last 48 hours.
Uber is now planning to get rid of the API from its iOS codebase.
The tool could be used by Uber or a malicious hacker with access to the company's network to spy on the iPhone user, according to researchers.
"Essentially it gives you full control over the framebuffer, which contains the colours of each pixel of your screen". "Considering Uber's past privacy issues I am very curious how they convinced Apple to allow this". "It can potentially steal passwords etc". Alternatively, it's possible that Apple sandboxed the entitlement to prevent it from accessing data outside Uber's app. "We are working with Apple to remove it completely ASAP".
It's not the first time Uber has made headlines for alleged surveillance infringements.
Although the entitlement isn't intended for any malicious goal, researchers worry that an unethical hacker who manages to break into Uber network might also get access to these sensitive permissions. For example, the so-called Hell program of Uber allegedly allowed the company to monitor the activities of the drivers of rival Lyft, so some may think that the hidden feature could have also allowed Uber to keep track of customers' usage of the Lyft app.
The screen recording feature in question is taken advantage of by screen recording apps on jailbroken iPhones, allowing apps like iRec to capture screens without needing permission directly from Apple.
Mourinho convinced he's a better manager at Man Utd
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho feels he is a better coach now than he was at Chelsea and Real Madrid . The Red Devils' next league assignment sees them taking on arch-rivals Liverpool at Anfield on 14 October.
Green Bay defense preparing for multiple Cowboys weapons
In his past four games against the Cowboys , Rodgers has thrown for 1,183 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Rodgers rolled to his left, allowing Cook to get behind safety Byron Jones and fire a flawless pass down the sidelines.
Sasikala out of jail but can't have political meetings, media interactions
After Jayalalithaa's passing in December 2016, her aide Sasikala placed herself as the general secretary of AIADMK . Sasikala has also been restricted from interacting with the media-print or electronic, the authorities said.
Amazon Is Launching Its Own Shipping Service To Fight FedEx And UPS
And with its latest actions, the company is getting closer to becoming a real challenger in two industries: delivery and apparel. Customers may see their favorite third-party sellers jumping ship rather than be consumed by degrees by Amazon.
Las Vegas gunman's girlfriend unaware of shooting plan
She is someone who can fill in a lot of the blanks and that's why investigators will want to get her in a interview room quickly. According to reports , Danley was born in the Philippines and moved to Queensland, Australia in the 1980's.
Killer Lawyer: I'll Sue NY Times Over Harvey Weinstein Report
Variety adds: "The Weinstein Co .is bracing for the impact of the stories, but most employees are largely unaware of the details". Instead, the actress said, Weinstein appeared in a bathrobe and asked if she could give him a massage or watch him shower.
Tillerson calls NBC News report on his resignation 'erroneous' In response, the President publicly dismissed the NBC report as "fake news" and "totally made up" while on a trip to Las Vegas. An NBC News spokeswoman told Business Insider on Wednesday that the news organization stood by its reporting .
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Arrives Russia for First Visit
This leaves Moscow aligned with Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran, whose influence Riyadh fears is growing in the region. At the same time, Saudi Arabia continues to present itself as a regional and worldwide player that is indispensable.
WWE to hold two live shows in New Delhi in December
Like I said last week, these two teams always put on great matches and Sunday will be no different. -New Day vs. When the Prizefighter didn't show up, the SmackDown Live Commissioner once again called him a coward.
Nobel Prize goes to physicists who observed gravitational waves
Their brilliance and ingenuity helped make an extremely ambitious project work and their Nobel Prize is immensely well-deserved. He said the Indians contributed especially in "extracting signal from noise, in detecting the gravitational waves ".
Smoke alarm sounds at 2 am - What do you do?
In addition, people are encouraged to practice a home fire drill twice a year - once at night and once during the day. Second and third place finishers in each group will also be invited to the fire station awards luncheon.
Domestic violence survivor: Please create safe community
Over the past eight years, UnitedHealthcare employees have donated more than 20,000 pounds of food to Catalyst Domestic Violence. One attendee who works with the Self-Help Center also works with kids in "Safe Homes", or areas away from domestic violence.
Pakistan violates ceasefire again
Pakistan on Thursday yet again violated ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district reported news agency ANI. Also in Siachen glacier in northern Kashmir, Indian and Pakistani troops have fought intermittently since 1984.
All-Star Cast For Woody Allen's 'Wonder Wheel' Trailer
However, Wonder Wheel will see Allen's primary claim to fame as a director of films touted on the Amazon Prime streaming platform. It will be released on December 1, 2017 after debuting as the Closing Night selection for the 55th New York Film Festival.
'Avatar' sequels cast Kate Winslet
Just last month we learned that Cameron had officially started production on the first of his four planned Avatar sequels. Unfortunately, Kate is married and Leo is with a 20-year-old Victoria's Secret model or similar, so we're losing hope.