
video – reportedly made by the mother – for a proof of concept. Then check out the DIY descriptions written up in 9to5Mac or the Verge. Apple is reportedly working on some sort of a patch but there has been no word of when it could be released. In the meantime, FaceTime users have been advised to go to their devices’ setting and simply turn the app.
Bugs can be worth phenomenal amounts of money – particularly for ones to Apple’s iOS. Some have reportedly been sold for $2 million. Since this bug does leave evidence behind and information about it has been publicized, it’s not worth so much now. It’s not clear if or when this intrepid teenager – or his mom – will get a payoff. Apple does have a bug bounty system that can pay rewards of up to $200,000.
The jury is out whether the boy or his mom will get any payoff. In addition, someone else has sued, declaring that the flaw was misused. The bigger question, beyond a direct cash payout, is over how such a big flaw in the app managed to get out of QA testing in the first place.