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2h ago

Apple Warns Users in 100 Countries of Mercenary Spyware Threats

The latest notifications target high-profile individuals, including a journalist and an activist, as the specific spyware campaign remains unidentified.

A pedestrian uses a smartphone while walking past an Apple store and logo in Hong Kong. (Image: Sebastian Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Apple has now come forward to reveal intricacies about how it sends threat notifications to its users.
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Overview

  • Apple has sent a new wave of high-confidence spyware alerts to iPhone users in 100 countries, warning of targeted attacks by mercenary spyware.
  • Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek publicly confirmed receiving the notifications this week.
  • The notifications warn users that the attacks are likely aimed at them due to their public roles or activities, urging them to activate Lockdown Mode for protection.
  • The specific spyware campaign and operators behind these attacks remain unclear, continuing a pattern of attribution challenges in the spyware industry.
  • This marks another step in Apple’s broader efforts to combat spyware, following similar notifications in 2024 and ongoing scrutiny of vendors like Paragon Solutions.