Mercenary spyware

 

 Apple has issued a cautionary statement indicating that iPhone users in India and 91 additional countries may have been subjected to spyware infiltration. The company has alerted users to the potential threat of spyware attacks. Earlier, Apple had communicated similar warnings to politicians in India, hinting at the likelihood of state-backed spyware incidents.

In a nutshell, Apple has cautioned iPhone users in India and 91 other countries about potential 'mercenary spyware' attacks, including the notorious Pegasus. This warning follows similar alerts sent to Indian politicians, raising concerns about potential state-sponsored spyware threats. These warnings have been issued since 2021, reaching users in 150 countries.

As reported by the Indian Express, Apple issued these warnings without assigning blame for the attacks. The emails were dispatched around 12:30 am IST on a Thursday, although the exact number of recipients remains undisclosed. Mentioning the Pegasus spyware, the emails highlighted the global utilization of similar tools for targeting individuals.

The subject line of the email was "ALERT: Apple detected a targeted mercenary spyware attack against your iPhone." Apple clarified in the email that such attacks are infrequent, highly sophisticated, and specifically aimed at select individuals, involving substantial financial investment. Users were advised to exercise caution with links and attachments from unfamiliar sources.

The email further stated, "Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-. This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously."

Regarding the nature of mercenary spyware attacks, Apple emphasized their rarity, sophistication, and global scope. They noted the substantial financial investment involved in executing such attacks, which target a small, select group of individuals continuously.

Apple refrained from providing detailed specifics regarding the warnings to prevent aiding potential attackers in evading detection. They updated their support page to assist users potentially targeted by such attacks.

These warnings from Apple commenced in 2021, reaching users across 150 countries. In the previous year, at least 20 Indian iPhone users also received similar warnings.

Previous investigations into comparable issues faced obstacles. In 2021, the Supreme Court of India formed a committee to investigate allegations of illegal surveillance via Pegasus. However, definitive evidence was elusive, partly due to lack of cooperation from the government. Overall, Apple seeks to heighten user awareness regarding the risks associated with such attacks and promote online safety.