Apple Warns Users in 110 Countries of Mercenary Spyware

Apple Inc. issued threat notifications to users in 110 countries this week, warning that their iPhones, iPads, or Macs may have been targeted by sophisticated mercenary spyware. This latest wave of alerts brings the total number of countries notified since the system's inception in 2021 to over 150.

The company updated its delivery method to include push notifications directly on the iPhone lock screen, supplementing existing email and account login alerts. Apple clarified that these notifications do not confirm a successful compromise but indicate a high level of confidence that the recipient was individually targeted based on their identity or profession. The company specifically targets these warnings at high-value individuals, including journalists, diplomats, activists, politicians, and tech employees.

Apple characterizes mercenary spyware as vastly more sophisticated than typical cybercrime, noting that such attacks are often associated with state actors and private firms like the NSO Group. To mitigate risks, the company advises affected users to immediately enable Lockdown Mode, update their software, and seek assistance from digital security organizations such as Access Now and Citizen Lab. While acknowledging the possibility of false positives, Apple maintains that the alerts are based on high-confidence threat intelligence signals.