APPLE has paid £156m for the start-up that hacks into iPhones and demands a fee to unlock them.
The fledgling hacking business’s innovation of charging people who’ve already paid £600 for their phone more money just to use it will become a feature of the iPhone 6.
A spokesman for Apple said: “We get a cut from every song on iTunes and every app in the App Store, so the idea of anyone extorting money from iPhone and iPad owners without us seeing a penny is outrageous.
“The service will be closed temporarily while we make the design all white and special, then will be relaunched called Apple Access or something with a £100 initial charge and regular £25 top-ups.”
The move follows Apple’s recent £600,000 purchase of a South London criminal gang specialising in the theft and resale of their products.
Apple user Joanna Kramer said: “I remember when being defrauded online meant a tedious chain of emails to a Nigerian scammer.
“But, with Apple’s focus on the user experience, now all I have to do is tap the screen a few times and the money’s gone. It’s so intuitive.”
