Apple (AAPL) showed its power as the world’s most famous phone maker on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, as its stock rose 2.6% by the closing bell. This rise happened because the company successfully shut down a secret way for the FBI to spy on deleted Signal messages. For years, government agents used a hidden flaw to read chats that users believed were gone forever. This massive win for user privacy acted like a shot of adrenaline for the stock price and gave investors a reason to celebrate.
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Apple Kills the Digital Ghost
The company finally fixed a bug that allowed your phone to secretly save data you tried to delete. This flaw acted like a digital ghost that stayed on the device even after the app was uninstalled. In an official report, the tech leader said it has now fixed the issue where “notifications marked for deletion” were “unexpectedly retained on the device.” This update ensures that when you choose to hide your data, it actually vanishes for good.
Signal Confirms the Software Fix
The people who run Signal are glad to see this change finally happen. They have been worried that their high-level security was being weakened by the phone’s own software. Once the new update came out, the team shared the news with everyone. They noted that “Apple’s advisory confirmed that the bugs that allowed this to happen have been fixed in the latest iOS release” and that users are now much safer. This confirmation helped boost confidence in the iPhone as a secure tool for private talks.
Signal President Exposes the Government Trick
The fight to close this hole started after news broke that the FBI was using the trick to win court cases. Signal President Meredith Whittaker has been very vocal about how dangerous these leaks can be. She argued that “notifications for deleted messages shouldn’t remain in any OS notification database.” Her public push for a fix helped force the tech giant to act quickly. This win for privacy is a big reason why the market reacted so well at the end of the day.
Telegram Founder Warns of Remaining Risks
Not everyone thinks the job is finished. Telegram founder Pavel Durov believes that phones need even more protection to be truly safe. He suggested that apps should “force an absence of notification previews” so that no data is ever left behind in the first place. Even with these warnings, most people see the new patch as a huge victory. The company’s ability to shut down government backdoors continues to be a main reason why people trust the brand and buy the stock.
Is Apple Still a Good Stock to Buy Now?
Turning to TipRanks, Wall Street has a Moderate Buy consensus rating on Apple stock (AAPL) based on 16 Buys, nine Holds, and one Sell. The average 12-month AAPL stock price target of $300.91 indicates 10.15% upside potential.
