In a concerning development, tech giant Apple has once again notified users in India and 97 other countries about a potential threat of surveillance spyware attack on their iPhones. As per the latest reports, the Cupertino-based company has alerted users stating that their devices may have been targeted by “mercenary spyware” like the infamous Pegasus tool.
According to Apple’s notification, the users were specifically selected for this attack “because of who they are or what they do”. While the company did not reveal the list of countries or name the culprits behind the malware, it highlighted that such spyware attacks cost millions of dollars to deploy and only impact a small number of individuals globally.
Interestingly, this is the second time in 2024 alone that Apple has issued a similar warning to users spanning over 90 nations. However, unlike before, the alert this time provided no additional details around the origin or timescale of the suspected attacks.
As per experts, these threats likely refer to ongoing surveillance software sold by firms such as Israeli company NSO Group, which is known for its Pegasus program used by certain governments to access target devices.
While details remain scarce, the fresh warning is a major cause of alarm raising serious privacy and security concerns for individuals. With geopolitical tensions high, such mercenary spyware risks further undermine user trust in tech giants’ abilities to curb cyberattacks. Apple now urgently needs to ramp up transparency around these threats to assure users.
