Apple has notified iPhone users in 100 countries that their devices have been infected with spyware, implying that it may be NSO’s Pegasus.The company has warned victims to take it seriously, and to immediately take a number of security actions in response.One of the recipients has shared almost the entire message, the first time I can recall seeing more than a brief excerpt … Apple alerts spyware victims Our NSO guide explains the background to the main iPhone spyware used for these attacks.
The tl;dr version is that the Israeli company makes Pegasus spyware to compromise iPhones, and sells it to governments – without being too picky about which ones.In many countries, attacks have been made against journalists, political opponents, human rights activists, lawyers, and more.Apple of course seeks to block this spyware each time a new version is detected, but the sophistication of the attacks can make this difficult.
Apple introduced a new level of protection back in 2021.It added code to iOS which aims to detect when an iPhone has been compromised even when the specific attack mechanism is unknown.Apple then sends alerts to victims.
Victims are alerted by iMessage, email, and a notification on the Apple ID website.Victims in 100 countries alerted this week reports that Apple has this week sent spyware alerts to victims in 100 countries.While only two people have as yet identified themselves, Apple’s message includes the reference to the number of countries involved.
One of the victims, Dutch right-wing activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek, shared almost the entirety of the message from Apple, which you can read below.The company doesn’t specify the spyware, but does specifically reference Pegasus as an example.9to5Mac’s Take Apple’s ability to detect signs of a spyware attack even when the mechanism is unknown is a powerful defence against these attacks.
The company is careful to reveal nothing about it is able to detect a compromised phone, to prevent companies like NSO attempting to evade this detection.The text of Apple’s alert You can read here what Vlaardingerbroek says is most of the message from Apple: Highlighted accessories Anker 511 Nano Pro ultra-compact iPhone charger Spigen MagFit case for iPhone 16e – adds MagSafe support Apple MagSafe Charger with 25w power for iPhone 16 models Apple 30W charger for above Anker 240W braided USB-C to USB-C cable You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.
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