What simply occurred? Jon Prosser, the favored veteran leaker, is being sued by Apple over claims that he conspired to interrupt into an worker’s growth iPhone to steal commerce secrets and techniques. The go well with pertains to YouTube movies Prosser posted early this 12 months that exposed particulars of iOS 26.
The movies Prosser posted to his Entrance Web page Tech and Genius Bar Podcast YouTube channels at first of the 12 months confirmed off leaked options within the subsequent model of iOS, which then was anticipated to be known as iOS 19 – earlier than Apple modified the nomenclature to mirror the 12 months of launch.
Among the many reveals have been a redesigned digicam and Messages app, whereas “the largest iOS leak ever” revealed in April gave us a primary take a look at Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language.
In keeping with the submitting, Apple alleges that Prosser requested one other man, Michael Ramacciotti, to secretly entry a growth iPhone within the possession of Apple worker Ethan Lipnik, Ramacciotti’s buddy. Apple claims that Prosser supplied Ramacciotti “cash or a future job alternative” in trade for entry to the system.
Ramacciotti allegedly found Lipnik’s iPhone passcode and used location monitoring to find out when he’d be away from residence for an prolonged interval so it may very well be accessed with out his data.
Lipnik mentioned within the go well with that Ramacciotti “typically frolicked at his residence, typically staying for the weekend, and observing his patterns and safety protocols for his units.”
Apple says Ramacciotti accessed the iPhone and made a FaceTime name to Prosser, exhibiting off an iOS 26 growth construct operating on Lipnik’s handset. Prosser is claimed to have recorded the decision with display screen seize instruments, shared the movies with others, and used them to create the mock-ups of iOS 26 proven in his movies. Prosser has mentioned that Apple makes use of identifiers inside in-development variations of its software program to assist it determine leakers, and recreating the renders is meant to guard these folks.
Apple says it came upon the small print of what occurred by way of an nameless e mail from somebody who claimed to have seen Prosser’s recording of the decision and acknowledged Lipnik’s condo. The corporate additionally says it has a voice word Ramacciotti despatched to Lipnik apologizing for his actions and blaming Prosser for the entire thing. Lipnik offered the recording to Apple, however he was nonetheless fired for failing to correctly comply with its insurance policies round securing unreleased software program.
Apple added that it doesn’t know what number of extra of its commerce secrets and techniques are within the possession of Prosser and Ramacciotti, and it’s requesting an injunction in opposition to additional disclosures. It’s also looking for damages over the misappropriation of the secrets and techniques and requesting a jury trial.
For the file: I actually didn’t “plot” to entry anybody’s telephone and was unaware of the scenario enjoying out.
– jon prosser (@jon_prosser) July 18, 2025
Prosser has responded to the lawsuit on X. He claims to be trying ahead to talking to Apple, didn’t “plot” to entry anybody’s telephone, and was unaware of the scenario.
