LONDON (AP) — Apple Inc. says it played no role in theNational Security Agency’s alleged efforts
to hack the iPhone,explaining that it was unaware of a recently revealed program apparentlyaimed at turning
the best-selling smartphone into an improvisedlistening device.The Cupertino, California-based, company
saidTuesday it had never worked with the NSA to deliberately weaken itsproducts, promising that it would
"defend our customers from securityattacks, regardless of who’s behind them."Apple’s
statementfollows the disclosure by privacy advocate Jacob Appelbaum of a leakeddocument describing an
NSA-designed "software implant" intended to turnan iPhone into a pocket-sized informer, secretly
recording audio,stealing files, and harvesting contact information.The revelation was one of series of
disclosures which have rattled the NSA in the past six months.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All
rightsreserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.LONDON (AP) — Apple
Inc. says it played no role in theNational Security Agency’s alleged efforts to hack the iPhone,explaining
that it was unaware of a recently revealed program apparentlyaimed at turning the best-selling smartphone
into an improvisedlistening device.The Cupertino, California-based, company saidTuesday it had never worked
with the NSA to deliberately weaken itsproducts, promising that it would "defend our customers from
securityattacks, regardless of who’s behind them."Apple’s statementfollows the disclosure by privacy
advocate Jacob Appelbaum of a leakeddocument describing an NSA-designed "software implant"
intended to turnan iPhone into a pocket-sized informer, secretly recording audio,stealing files, and
harvesting contact information.The revelation was one of series of disclosures which have rattled the NSA in
the past six months.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.