Apple sends spyware warning to 99 countries

A new Apple spyware alert has reached users in 99 countries. Notifications say people may have been the target of paid spyware attacks. However, the name behind the attacks is unknown for now. Moreover, the warning created a great impact, especially in Germany.

Apple sends such notifications from time to time. However, the company does not disclose who is behind the attack. It also does not confirm whether the device has actually been compromised. However, he recommends those who receive the warning to take it seriously and seek expert support. Because the notification does not say that the device has been compromised, but that the person may have been the target. Apple also offers additional protection against such attacks, called Lockdown Mode, on the iPhone.

How did Apple spyware warning affect Germany?

According to the Financial Times, German lawmakers and government officials began receiving threat notifications from Apple last Thursday. Thereupon, the country's Federal Information Security Agency issued an urgent warning over the weekend. The agency also asked those who received the notification to assume that their devices were no longer secure.

This call shows the seriousness of the situation. Because assuming that devices are not secure means that the data they hold may be at risk. Therefore, being cautious is the first step for those who receive the notification.

The German government announced that it took the incident and the warning very seriously. The government stated that it was working with all its might to investigate the circumstances of the situation. Meanwhile, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius refused to say whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz was among those affected. Therefore, this issue remains open for now.

Zero Click Vulnerability Claim

The attacks allegedly exploited a "zero-click" vulnerability. In other words, the device can be seized without the user having to click on anything or take any action. Moreover, it was enough for the attackers to know the target's phone number. Therefore, there is no need to make any mistakes on the user side.

There are also warnings outside Germany. One of them, according to TechCrunch, is Beirut-based filmmaker Radwan Mortada. Mortada shared the notification he received on X. The notification stated that Apple sent the new warning group to users in 99 countries.

Mortada said he was also targeted with Pegasus spyware in 2017 and 2021. But this time he doesn't know who is behind him. He also added that he didn't know if an investigative documentary he directed was connected to the documentary. That's why Apple's spyware warning carries uncertainty for him, too.

It is also unclear which government is carrying out the targeting. Additionally, the results of the investigation in Germany have not yet been announced. Therefore, clear information for users who receive Apple spyware warnings will emerge in the later stages of the investigation.