Pantami asks Nigerians to Update Devices to Block Hackers Terrorising iPhone, iPad, other Apple Products

Minister of digital economy Isa Ali Pantami has advised Nigerians to update their Apple devices such as iPhone, iPads and Macbooks to avoid being targeted by high-level hackers, seeking to control their devices’ operating systems.

Mr Pantami on Saturday tweeted a two-minute clip of a CNN programme where Apple users were advised to immediately update their devices to outwit hackers exploiting a massive security flaw in the previous IOS, to access their location, bank details, photographs and other personal information.

“Update your Apple product now due to a massive flaw/vulnerability: Go to your Settings, then General, then hit Update Software,” tweeted Mr Pantami.

Hacking expert David Kennedy asserted the flaw could enable hackers listen to users’ phone conversations, access their text messages, emails and also cameras. He stressed the hacked information would in turn be sold for millions of dollars on the dark web.

To avoid their personal details being accessed and auctioned off, the communications minister appealed to Nigerians to update their Apple products.

“Update your Apple products right now pls,” Mr Pantami wrote.

Some commenters berated the minister for sharing information already in the public domain, while he kept mum on using digital channels to tackle insecurity.