Apple warns some iPhone users that they have been targeted by a ‘mercenary spyware attack’

Apple is warning users that it has identified new instances of mercenary spyware attacks on iPhones. Potential victims were sent an email from Apple explaining that the attack could “remotely compromise your iPhone.” The victims have been notified through Reuters to India and 91 other countries.

These types of mercenary attacks typically cost millions of dollars and are often rendered useless once discovered by security researchers and patched through iOS security updates. They are therefore believed to be state-sponsored, due to the high development costs of creating such complex and sophisticated attacks.

Apple has been sending these warnings in waves since 2021 as new attacks were discovered. They typically target people such as political activists, government officials, diplomats, and journalists.

In this latest case, the goal of the attack appears to have been to install malicious software on users’ devices in order to spy on their data and whereabouts.

Obviously, Apple is continuously working to patch and defend against all kinds of iPhone security bugs. Users can proactively protect themselves by immediately installing the latest software updates and by enabling Lockdown Mode, which disables some iPhone system features that are particularly vulnerable. You can consider it.

The source of this latest attack has not been disclosed at this time. In addition to technical patches, Apple is using its legal powers to go after some of these spyware makers.

Israel’s NSO Group is one of the most notorious manufacturers of such spyware. In November 2021, Apple sued NSO Group for its involvement in carrying out surveillance attacks against Apple users. The case is ongoing.