Apple has sent a new round of threat notifications to customers in 110 countries who the company believes may have been targeted by mercenary spyware attacks.
In a statement shared with TechCrunch, Apple said it notified an unspecified number of users in the latest batch and has now alerted customers in more than 150 countries since it began sending these warnings in late 2021.
Apple described mercenary spyware attacks as among the most advanced digital threats currently facing users because of their cost, sophistication, and global reach. The company also said it does not link its notifications to specific attackers or regions because of the worldwide nature of these campaigns.
These attacks typically focus on a very small number of individuals who may be targeted because of their profession, public role or activities. Journalists, activists, politicians and diplomats are among those who can be singled out.
Unlike ordinary cybercrime, mercenary spyware attacks can involve significant resources and highly sophisticated exploits developed by spyware vendors. Attackers use these tools to compromise specific devices and potentially conduct surveillance on their targets.
Apple considers its threat notifications to be high-confidence warnings that a person may have been specifically targeted. The company encourages anyone who receives one to take the warning seriously.
Apple does not publicly reveal the specific information that triggers a threat notification. According to the company, providing those details could help spyware operators understand how Apple detects their attacks and adjust their techniques.
Users can receive an Apple threat notification in several ways. An alert can appear directly on an iPhone’s Lock Screen and in Settings, while Apple can also send an email to addresses associated with the user’s Apple Account. The email is sent from “[email protected][.]com.” A notification banner can also appear at the top of the user’s Apple Account page after signing in at account.apple.com.
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Apple recommends keeping devices updated with the latest software, protecting them with a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID, and enabling two-factor authentication for the Apple Account. Users are also advised to turn on Stolen Device Protection and Lockdown Mode, install apps only from trusted sources, and avoid opening suspicious links or attachments from unknown senders.
Apple Warns Users in 110 Countries About Mercenary Spyware Attacks
