New Wave Of Warnings Triggers Unusually High Demand For Help
An unusually large number of Apple users have reported receiving notifications warning that their devices may have been targeted by sophisticated spyware.
Apple recently sent alerts to customers in 110 countries, warning that they may have been targeted by “mercenary spyware”, a term the company uses for sophisticated surveillance malware often associated with government-linked attacks. Apple says it has notified users in more than 150 countries in recent years.
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The latest wave appears to be its largest yet, according to Access Now, a digital rights organisation that investigates spyware cases.
Investigators See Surge In Reports
Mohammed Al-Maskati, who leads Access Now’s spyware investigations, told TechCrunch that requests for help were 30% to 40% higher than usual following an Apple alert campaign. Cybersecurity firm iVerify also reported an influx of Apple threat notifications.
The warnings have drawn attention in Ukraine as well. A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier told TechCrunch that he received an alert and later learned that other military personnel had received similar notifications.
John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at The Citizen Lab, said the scale and geographic spread of public reports were “pretty unprecedented”. He added that public posts likely represent only a fraction of the people who received warnings.
Apple Expands Its Warning System
The increase may partly reflect changes in how Apple delivers the alerts. The company now notifies users through their iPhone lock screen, Settings, email and Apple Account website.
Anyone receiving one of these warnings should take it seriously. Apple and security experts recommend enabling Lockdown Mode, which is designed to make iPhones, iPads and Macs harder to compromise.
