Targeted by Spyware? Apple Alerts iPhone Users in Widespread Campaign

Apple once again warns iPhone users about the threat of spyware. The company has sent notifications to device owners in 98 countries, alerting them to potential attacks by mercenary spyware. This marks the second such campaign this year; in April, similar warnings were issued to users in 92 countries.

According to TechCrunch, the message warns users of attempts to remotely compromise their iPhones, associated with specific Apple IDs. Apple emphasizes that the attack is likely targeted at the user due to their identity or activities and urges recipients to take the warning seriously.

Since 2021, the tech giant has been regularly sending such notifications, covering users in more than 150 countries. The latest wave of warnings was issued on Wednesday, but Apple has not disclosed the identities of the attackers or the specific countries where users received notifications.

Among the recent recipients were users from India. In October, Apple had already sent similar notifications to several Indian journalists and politicians. Later, the human rights organization Amnesty International found traces of Pegasus, an extremely invasive spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, on the iPhones of prominent Indian journalists.

Apple notes that it cannot disclose additional details about its threat detection methods, as doing so could help malicious actors evade detection in the future. Interestingly, the company has altered the wording in its messages: instead of “state-sponsored attacks,” the term “mercenary spyware attacks” is now used.