Apple Chip Hack Sparks Lawsuit Over Stolen Secrets

Magnet Forensics has filed a lawsuit against Paradigm Shift Technology, alleging that the latter released details of a serious Apple chip flaw known as usbliter8 using stolen trade secrets. The flaw, which affects older iPhone processors from 2018 and 2019, allows an attacker to run their own code before the phone boots up. Because it targets the device’s boot system, no software update can fix it.

The dispute began when a former Magnet engineer joined Paradigm Shift. While at Magnet, the engineer worked on a highly confidential project called MSG, a zero‑day access tool. After leaving Magnet, the engineer helped Paradigm Shift publish an article about usbliter8 that mirrors MSG technology. Magnet claims it has evidence linking the engineer to the publication and states that Paradigm Shift ignored several cease‑and‑desist notices.

In its complaint, Magnet seeks:

• Removal of the usbliter8 write‑up and any related code from the internet.
• Compensation for lost profits.
• A court order to stop Paradigm Shift from using or sharing the stolen trade secrets.

The case highlights how sensitive research can be misused when it moves between companies and demonstrates that even old hardware can pose new security risks if vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited.