November 1, 2023 at 10:09AM
The cost to hack an iPhone ranges from $0 to $65,000 depending on security updates. Exploiting an individual’s iPhone can cost up to $8 million. Apple’s investment in hardening the iPhone has contributed to the higher cost compared to exploiting software like Adobe Acrobat. Big tech companies have spent significant resources to raise the cost of exploiting software. Techniques to increase the cost of exploitation include secure-by-design architecture, hardware and operating system exploit mitigation, bug bounties, automated testing tools, and manual or automated code reviews. The future requires more security engineers, tools that raise the cost to exploit, and collaboration with developers and business needs.
Key Takeaways from the Meeting Notes:
1. The cost of hacking a phone can vary greatly depending on factors such as the device, security updates, and the type of exploit. For an up-to-date iPhone, the cost can range between $0 and $65,000, whereas an individual exploit for an iPhone can sell for as high as $8 million. In comparison, exploiting a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat can cost as little as $250.
2. Big tech companies, like Apple, have invested significant resources in hardening software and raising the cost of exploitation. This achievement should be acknowledged and replicated elsewhere.
3. The traditional approach of relying on network perimeters for security is not enough. The modern approach, known as zero trust, assumes that the perimeter is already breached and focuses on hardening each device and application to increase the cost of exploitation.
4. Techniques such as secure-by-design architecture, hardware and operating system exploit mitigation, bug bounties, automated testing tools, and manual or automated code reviews can effectively raise the cost of exploiting software. However, implementing some of these techniques can be challenging, time-consuming, or prone to false positives.
5. To improve software security, it is essential to hire security engineers with development backgrounds, gain buy-in from engineering leadership, shift focus towards tools that raise the cost of exploitation, collaborate with developer stakeholders, and consider business needs for faster shipping.
6. The importance of increasing the cost to exploit software is crucial, considering the widespread use of software and its vulnerability to exploitation.