Apple warns users in 99 countries of possible spyware attacks
Germany is investigating after officials received alerts, and its information security agency has advised recipients to assume their devices are insecure.
Loading… Բեռնվում է…
Germany is investigating after officials received alerts, and its information security agency has advised recipients to assume their devices are insecure.
Apple sent threat notifications to users in 99 countries who may have been targeted by mercenary spyware, according to a notice shared by a recipient and described by TechCrunch. Germany’s government says it is investigating after lawmakers and officials received alerts.
Apple periodically sends such warnings. The previous wave reached users in 110 countries on 13 August, according to Techaeris. The latest country count describes the reach of the notifications, not the number of people warned or devices infected; Apple has not disclosed recipient numbers.
Apple says its alerts reflect a high degree of confidence that a person was individually targeted, but its investigations cannot provide absolute certainty. A warning does not confirm that a device was compromised. Apple says mercenary spyware attacks concentrate exceptional resources on a small number of people.
German lawmakers and government officials began receiving the alerts on 29 October, the Financial Times said, as relayed by 9to5Mac. Over the weekend, Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security advised recipients to assume their devices were no longer secure. The government said it was taking the warning very seriously and working intensively to investigate the circumstances.
Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius declined to say whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among those affected. The Financial Times also said the attacks exploited a “zero-click” vulnerability: a security flaw that could allow a device to be compromised without the target opening a link or taking another action. It said attackers needed only the target’s phone number. It remains unclear who was behind the attacks or which government may have orchestrated the targeting.
TechCrunch said Beirut-based filmmaker Radwan Mortada also shared an alert. Mortada said he had previously been targeted with Pegasus spyware in 2017 and 2021. He said he did not know who was behind the latest attempt or whether it was connected to an investigative documentary he directed.
From 16 November 2026, developers must declare whether apps share locations or offer dating and relationship features. Apple says apps with the latter will receive a minimum rating of 18+.
Apple advises recipients to verify an alert by signing in directly to account.apple.com, where a genuine warning appears at the top of the page. It says genuine notifications do not ask users to click links, open files, install apps or profiles, or provide passwords or verification codes.
The company recommends enabling Lockdown Mode, a device protection setting, and seeking expert help, including from nonprofit Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline. Apple says the vast majority of users will never face mercenary spyware targeting, but recommends that all users keep software current and use two-factor authentication. Someone who has not received a warning but has good reason to suspect individual targeting can also enable Lockdown Mode.
2 min
The not-for-profit successor is wholly owned by Smart Energy Code Company and replaces Capita subsidiary Smart DCC under a public-interest model.
2 min
The planned Effingham County pilot would reduce the data center’s electricity demand during extreme weather or emergencies, rather than add new generating capacity.
2 min