Apple has issued a new warning to iPhone users who may have been targeted by spyware.
According to TechCrunch, which spoke with two potential victims, Apple sent notifications to users in 100 countries.
This is not the first time Apple has issued warnings about spyware; it has previously alerted iPhone users who experienced similar attacks and directed them to nonprofit organizations like Amnesty International for assistance.
Among the apparent victims of spyware is Italian journalist Chiara Pellegrini, who shared her experience in an article. Like previous cases, she received an email from Apple informing her of the targeting. According to Pellegrini, the message stated, “This notification is being sent today to affected users in 100 countries.”
The second victim is Dutch right-wing activist Eva Vlaardingenbroek, who shared her experience on X (formerly Twitter). In the warning she received, Apple stated, “We have detected a mercenary spyware attack targeting your iPhone. This attack is likely aimed specifically at you due to your identity or the nature of your work. Although absolute certainty cannot be achieved when detecting such attacks, Apple is highly confident in this warning — please take it seriously.”
It remains unclear what type of spyware was used against them; however, Apple recently released updates to patch security vulnerabilities that may have been exploited in these attacks. Notable examples of spyware include Pegasus, developed by the Israeli company NSO, and more recently, LightSpy, discovered by researchers from BlackBerry last year.
The danger of spyware lies in the fact that once installed on an iPhone, it allows attackers to access the device’s screen, camera, and microphone, enabling them to see and hear everything the user does, including reading encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal.
