Updated Dec. 31, 2013 2:38 p.m. ET
Apple Inc. AAPL +0.92% Apple Inc. U.S.: Nasdaq $559.60 +5.08 +0.92% Dec. 31, 2013 3:21 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 6.06M P/E Ratio 14.02 Market Cap $494.94 Billion Dividend Yield 2.18% Rev. per Employee $2,127,850 12/31/13 Apple Denies Working with NSA ... 12/31/13 Apple Denies Working with NSA ... 12/31/13 Candid Jurists Speak Out; Appl... More quote details and news » said it never worked with the National Security Agency to create a backdoor way for the organization to spy on iPhone users and it was unaware of any program to target its products.
The company issued a statement Tuesday in response to a leaked document alleging that the NSA had targeted Apple's iPhones in a spyware program called "DROPOUTJEEP" in 2008. The document said once the software was installed on an iPhone, it had the ability to access the device's data, activate the phone's microphone or camera, intercept text messages or narrow down a user's location using cell towers.
"Apple has never worked with the NSA to create a backdoor in any of our products, including iPhone," the company said in a statement. "Additionally, we have been unaware of this alleged NSA program targeting our products. We care deeply about our customers' privacy and security. Our team is continuously working to make our products even more secure, and we make it easy for customers to keep their software up to date with the latest advancements."
The leaked document was dated October 2008, implying that these methods were for older devices running older versions of Apple's iOS operating system. A person familiar with the matter said Apple doesn't believe that such spyware has attacked its latest hardware--from iPhone 5 and beyond—or software including its iOS 7 operating system.
The document relating to Apple was part of a larger cache detailing ways the NSA can gain access to equipment made by Cisco Systems Inc., Juniper Networks Inc., and others.
The Wall Street Journal reported in August that U.S. and foreign law-enforcement agencies used software to turn Internet-connected devices, such as laptops and smartphones, into digital eavesdropping posts. Such programs often are created and installed without the device manufacturer's knowledge.
In a statement Tuesday, the NSA said that, because it uses commercial technology made by U.S. companies, "the U.S. Government is as concerned as the public is with the security of these products. While we cannot comment on specific, alleged intelligence-gathering activities, NSA's interest in any given technology is driven by the use of that technology by foreign intelligence targets. The United States pursues its intelligence mission with care to ensure that innocent users of those same technologies are not affected."
-Danny Yadron contributed to this article.
Write to Daisuke Wakabayashi at Daisuke.Wakabayashi@wsj.com
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