Ian Beer (hacker)

{{Short description|British computer security expert}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=April 2018}}

Ian Beer is a British computer security expert and white hat hacker, currently residing in Switzerland and working for Google as part of its

Project Zero.{{cite web|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/07/google-project-zero/|title=Meet ‘Project Zero,’ Google's Secret Team of Bug-Hunting Hackers|last=Greenberg|first=Andy|date=15 July 2014|publisher=Wired.com|accessdate=4 January 2015}} He has been lauded by some as one of the best iOS hackers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/google-project-zero-hacker-iphone-bug-bounty/|title=Google Hacker Asks Tim Cook to Donate $2.45 Million In Unpaid iPhone Bug Bounties|last=Koebler|first=Jason|last2=Franceschi-Bicchierai|first2=Lorenzo|date=2018-08-09|website=Motherboard|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-08}} Beer was the first security expert to publish his findings under the "Project Zero" name in the spring of 2014;{{Cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/security/meldung/Google-schickt-Elite-Hacker-auf-die-Jagd-nach-Sicherheitsluecken-2260908.html|title=Google schickt Elite-Hacker auf die Jagd nach Sicherheitslücken|last=Schmidt|first=Jürgen|date=15 July 2014|website=Heise Security|language=de-DE|access-date=2017-03-19}} at this time, the project was not yet revealed and crediting the newly discovered vulnerabilities to it led to some speculation.

He is known for discovering a large number of security vulnerabilities in Apple products, including iOS, Safari and macOS,{{Cite web|url=http://de.ubergizmo.com/2016/10/26/sicherheitsluecken-macos-sierra-10-12-1-unbedingt-aufspielen.html|title=Sicherheitslücken: macOS Sierra 10.12.1 unbedingt aufspielen - UBERGIZMO DE|last=Donath|first=Andreas|date=26 October 2016|website=de.ubergizmo.com|language=de-DE|access-date=2017-03-19}} as well as helping create jailbreaks for iOS versions.{{Cite news|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/first-iphone-7-jailbreak-ios-10-1-1-now-available-for-download-511374.shtml|title=First iPhone 7 Jailbreak (iOS 10.1.1) Now Available for Download|last=Popa|first=Bogdan|work=softpedia|access-date=2017-03-19|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.heise.de/security/meldung/Yalu-Erster-oeffentlicher-Jailbreak-fuer-iOS-10-3580765.html|title=Yalu: Erster öffentlicher Jailbreak für iOS 10|last=Becker|first=Leo|date=22 December 2016|website=Heise Security|language=de-DE|access-date=2017-03-19}} One such discovery forced Apple to rewrite significant parts of the macOS and iOS kernel.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/10/27/how_googles_project_zero_made_apple_refactor_its_kernel/|title=How Google's Project Zero made Apple refactor its kernel|last=Chirgwin|first=Richard|date=27 October 2016|website=The Register|access-date=2017-03-19}} Beer is also a vocal critic of Apple concerning its bug bounty program for iOS announced in 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com:443/infosec/security-researcher-changes-mind-1/|title=Security Researcher Changes Mind over Apple Bug|last=Bradbury|first=Danny|date=March 5, 2019|website=Infosecurity Magazine|access-date=2019-03-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/google-hacker-ian-beer-challenges-apple-ceo-tim-cook-to-donate-millions-to-charity-2018-8|title=An elite Google hacker is directly challenging Apple CEO Tim Cook to donate over $2 million to charity|last=Leswing|first=Kif|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-03-08}} The invite only program has been accused of low payouts. Beer has also criticized the company for not disclosing to its users why updates that fix the bugs should be installed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-warns-apple-missing-bugs-in-your-security-bulletins-are-disincentive-to-patch/|title=Google warns Apple: Missing bugs in your security bulletins are 'disincentive to patch'|last=Tung|first=Liam|date=October 19, 2018|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2019-03-08}}