Apple has issued a fresh round of Apple spyware alerts to customers in 110 countries, warning that their iPhones, iPads or Macs may have been targeted by sophisticated spyware typically associated with government surveillance operations.
The technology giant said the latest notifications were sent on Thursday as part of its continuing effort to warn users whose devices may have been targeted by so-called mercenary spyware.
Apple expands threat warnings
Apple said it has now notified customers in more than 150 countries since it began issuing the alerts, offering a glimpse into the growing global reach of highly sophisticated surveillance tools.
The company has also updated the way users receive and respond to the warnings.
According to Apple, affected customers will receive a notification directly on their iPhone lock screen, alongside emails and alerts when they sign into their Apple accounts.
The warning states: “Apple detected a mercenary spyware attack targeted at your iPhone. There are actions you can take now to protect your data and device.”
The company said the revised notification experience is intended to make it easier for recipients to access information and take steps to protect their devices.
Digital rights researcher John Scott Railton of Citizen Lab was among the first to highlight the latest batch of notifications.
Apple urges users to act quickly
Receiving an alert does not necessarily mean a device has been successfully compromised. Apple nevertheless advises affected users to treat the warning seriously and take immediate protective measures.
One of the key recommendations is to activate Lockdown Mode, a security feature designed to restrict certain device functions and make sophisticated spyware attacks considerably harder to execute.
Apple has previously said it has not identified a case in which a device using Lockdown Mode was successfully hacked with spyware.
The company also directs recipients towards additional sources of assistance to help assess the threat and secure their devices.
Growing concern over surveillance spyware
Spyware attacks remain relatively uncommon, but their growing availability has raised concerns among digital rights groups.
Sophisticated surveillance tools have increasingly been linked to attacks targeting journalists, civil society activists, political critics and other individuals considered of interest to governments.
Apple began issuing its threat notifications in 2021 as part of efforts to alert users believed to have been targeted by highly sophisticated spyware.
Scott Railton described the latest push notifications as a “big improvement” because they make it easier for recipients to understand the threat and seek assistance.
The latest warnings underline the increasingly difficult security environment facing users of personal devices, particularly those who may be targeted because of their professional or public activities.
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