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Apple issues spyware threat alerts to iPhone users in 110 countries
Apple has issued a new round of high-confidence threat notifications to iPhone users in 110 countries, warning of potential targeting by mercenary spyware. These sophisticated, expensive-to-develop surveillance tools are often linked to state actors and typically target specific individuals such as journalists, activists, politicians, and diplomats.
To improve visibility, Apple has updated the alert system so that notifications now appear directly on the iPhone Lock Screen as push notifications, as well as within the Settings app. Users can also verify alerts by signing into their Apple Account at account.apple.com.
Apple recommends that recipients of these alerts take immediate action by updating their devices, reviewing account security, and considering the activation of Lockdown Mode, which provides extreme protection by restricting certain device functionalities. The company notes that receiving an alert does not guarantee a successful compromise but indicates a high-confidence detection of targeted activity.
Entities
Access Now · Apple · Citizen Lab · Cytrox · NSO Group · iPhone · iPhone
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Users can verify the legitimacy of an alert by signing into account.apple.com. dev.to
- [● 20 SOURCES] Alerts now appear as notifications on the iPhone Lock Screen and within the Settings app. www.actualidadiphone.com · dev.to · android-mt.ouest-france.fr · digitalmarketreports.com · mrmad.com.tw · +15 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] Targeted individuals often include journalists, activists, politicians, and diplomats. gr.pcmag.com · www.latestly.com · www.analyticsinsight.net · android-mt.ouest-france.fr · digitalmarketreports.com · +15 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] Since the launch of the system, Apple has sent alerts to users in over 150 countries. android-mt.ouest-france.fr · gr.pcmag.com · dev.to · digitalmarketreports.com · mrmad.com.tw · +15 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] Apple recommends enabling Lockdown Mode for users who receive these notifications. gr.pcmag.com · www.analyticsinsight.net · android-mt.ouest-france.fr · digitalmarketreports.com · mrmad.com.tw · +15 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] The latest wave of notifications was sent to users in 110 countries on August 13. android-mt.ouest-france.fr · gr.pcmag.com · www.actualidadiphone.com · www.latestly.com · www.analyticsinsight.net · +15 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Apple has issued threat notifications to users regarding mercenary spyware attacks. android-mt.ouest-france.fr · gr.pcmag.com · www.actualidadiphone.com · www.latestly.com · laverdadnoticias.com · +2 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] Mercenary spyware attacks are highly sophisticated, expensive to develop, and often linked to state actors. gr.pcmag.com · www.latestly.com · www.analyticsinsight.net · android-mt.ouest-france.fr · digitalmarketreports.com · +15 more
- [● 3 SOURCES] Since 2021, Apple has issued these warnings to users in approximately 150 countries total. android-mt.ouest-france.fr · gr.pcmag.com · dev.to
- [● 3 SOURCES] Targeted individuals include journalists, activists, politicians, and diplomats. gr.pcmag.com · www.latestly.com · www.analyticsinsight.net
- [● 5 SOURCES] The latest round of notifications was sent to users in 110 countries on August 13. android-mt.ouest-france.fr · gr.pcmag.com · www.latestly.com · www.analyticsinsight.net · dev.to
- [● 20 SOURCES] Apple has issued threat notifications to iPhone users regarding mercenary spyware attacks. android-mt.ouest-france.fr · gr.pcmag.com · www.actualidadiphone.com · www.latestly.com · laverdadnoticias.com · +15 more