Mercenary spyware: Apple warns 92 countries of spyware attacks

In a recent development, tech giant Apple has issued warnings to iPhone users across India and 91 other countries, alerting them about potential spyware attacks targeting their devices. The warning specifically highlights the threat of a type of spyware known as "mercenary spyware," including the infamous Pegasus software developed by the NSO Group in Israel.

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Last October, Apple had sent similar alerts to politicians from various political parties in India, hinting at a possible state-sponsored espionage attempt on their iPhones. However, the company later clarified that it couldn't definitively identify the perpetrators behind the attacks.

The warning emails, which were sent out around 12:30 am IST on a Thursday, did not attribute blame to any specific entity for the attacks. They emphasized the sophistication and rarity of such attacks, which are said to target only a select few individuals and require significant financial resources to execute.

The subject line of the email, "ALERT: Apple detected a targeted mercenary spyware attack against your iPhone," grabbed users' attention, urging them to exercise caution when interacting with links and attachments from unknown senders.

As per reports, Apple's email to affected users 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. This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do."

The company urged users to take the warning seriously, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the need for heightened vigilance against such cyber threats.