Apple sent threat notifications to iPhone users in 92 countries on Wednesday, warning them of potential mercenary spyware attacks targeting their devices. The alerts, sent at 12pm Pacific Time, informed users that their iPhones associated with their Apple IDs may have been remotely compromised by such attacks.
The company did not disclose the identities of the attackers or specify the countries where users received the notifications. The warning emphasized that the attacks may be targeting individuals based on their identities or activities, urging recipients to take the threat seriously.
Apple has been sending similar notifications to users multiple times a year since 2021, with alerts issued in over 150 countries. In October last year, it sent identical warnings to journalists and politicians in India, coinciding with reports of NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware being discovered on iPhones belonging to prominent individuals in the country.
The recent surge in spyware alerts comes amid preparations for elections in many nations, prompting concerns about state-sponsored efforts to influence electoral outcomes. While Apple’s notifications did not explicitly mention the timing, they underscore the ongoing threat posed by sophisticated spyware attacks.
Apple refrained from providing specific details about the cause of the notifications to prevent potential attackers from adapting their tactics to evade detection.
It emphasized that mercenary spyware attacks, such as those involving Pegasus from NSO Group, are rare and highly sophisticated, requiring advanced threat intelligence and investigations for detection.
Apple replaced previous references to “state-sponsored” attacks with “mercenary spyware attacks” but maintained the seriousness of the threat. It reiterated that its threat notifications are based on internal intelligence and investigations, providing users with high-confidence alerts to individual targeting by such spyware attacks.
Overall, Apple’s proactive approach to warning users about potential security threats reflects its commitment to protecting user privacy and security against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
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