‪Apple Warns iPhone Users They May Have Been Bugged By Israeli’s Pegasus-Type Spyware ‬

Apple sent out threat notifications to users in 92 countries on Wednesday, informing them that they may have been the target of “mercenary spyware attacks,” a warning that comes as several countries are preparing to hold critical elections.

What you need to know

BIG NUMBER

150. That’s the number of countries in which iPhone users have received threat notifications since 2021, the company said.

KEY BACKGROUND

In October, Apple sent out similar notifications to several prominent political leaders in India who represented opposition parties. Rahul Gandhi, the top leader of Congress—India’s main opposition party—told reporters he and several members of his and other opposition parties had received notifications that their iPhones were being targeted by “state-sponsored attackers.” At the time, Gandhi called out Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and accused them of carrying out the attack. Prominent activists and journalists who are critical of the Modi government also received the notification at the time. Apple confirmed it had sent out the notifications but said it had not attributed it to a “specific state-sponsored attacker.” In late December, Amnesty International said it had conducted a forensic investigation to confirm Apple’s findings and said NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware was used to carry out the attacks. Indian authorities publicly denied carrying out the attacks but, according to the Washington Post, they reportedly pressured Apple to “come up with alternative explanations for the warnings to users,” to ease the political fallout.

FURTHER READING

Apple warns users of “mercenary spyware” attack; India, 91 other countries impacted (Economic Times)

Apple warns some Indian users their iPhone may be bugged by Pegasus-type spyware (Indian Express)

Kenyan intelligence agency NIS has also been accused of using NSO Group’s Pegasus Spyware.

Israelis Powerful Pegasus Spyware May Have Been Used By NIS To Target And Spy On Journalists Bloggers And Dissidents