Apple warns: Spyware attacks in nearly 100 countries

Apple is once again warning iPhone users that there have been attempts to tamper with their devices using spyware. Users in a total of 98 countries were informed about this on Wednesday IT blog TechCrunch reports. In April, the company sent a similar warning to iPhone owners in 92 countries. Apple can detect certain types of attacks on its network.

Advertisement

From 2021, warnings to users in over 150 countries

“Apple has determined that you are the target of an attack by Mercenary spyware, which attempts to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID,” the company wrote to those affected. “Mercenary spyware” are programs that are used by espionage or government agencies and are sometimes distributed by third-party companies or agents (hence “mercenary” = mercenary soldier). The company further writes that the attack was likely “specifically targeted at you as an individual, because of who you are or what you do.” Although it is never possible to detect such attacks “with absolute certainty,” Apple is “very confident” in its findings. “Please take (the warning) seriously.”

The term “mercenary spyware” is new to Apple. The company is holding back a bit when it comes to naming the actors. Previously, the company always wrote that these were “state-sponsored attacks.” In total, warnings have been sent to users in more than 150 countries since 2021, as Apple writes in a support document. There are several to find some cluesWhat users can do includes using blocking mode.

Many affected people from India

The problem: Attacks could still happen long after the warning was issued. Users can only take precautionary measures after the fact and hope that the security flaws exploited by spyware creators will no longer exist. “We strongly encourage you to reach out to experts like Emergency Response, the nonprofit’s digital security helpline Reach out now“, Apple writes in brief.

Retro gaming: Emulator Delta arrives on iPad – EU excluded

TechCrunch also writes that attacks on activists in India have increased recently during elections in the world’s largest democracy. These users reported that they were warned by Apple. A similar notification was also sent in October, which affected not only politicians but also journalists. The spy software Pegasus is often used, against which Apple is also taking legal action, but there are also many other attack tools.

(B.Sc.)