In a recent development, Apple has sent out a fresh round of threat notifications to users in India and 91 other countries, cautioning them about potential attacks on their iPhones by “mercenary spyware,” including the controversial Pegasus malware developed by the Israeli NSO Group. This move follows a similar notification last October to Opposition leaders across parties in India.
Alert: Mercenary Spyware Attack Detected
The threat notification emails, sent at around 12:30 am IST on Thursday, April 11, informed impacted users about the targeted attacks. The subject line reads, “ALERT: Apple detected a targeted mercenary spyware attack against your iPhone.” The notification warns users that they are being specifically targeted and advises them to take the threat seriously.
Apple highlights that such mercenary spyware attacks, like those involving Pegasus, are rare and sophisticated, costing millions of dollars and targeting a very small number of individuals globally. The company urges users to exercise caution with links and attachments from unknown senders and updates its support page with tips for potential targets.
Background and Response
Apple clarifies that it does not attribute these threats to any specific state-sponsored attacker, maintaining that these notifications aim to inform and assist targeted users. The company started sending these threat notifications in 2021, reaching individuals in 150 countries. However, investigations into similar issues in the past, such as the Pegasus controversy, have faced challenges, with a lack of conclusive evidence and limited cooperation from authorities.
While the Supreme Court formed a committee to investigate allegations of unauthorized surveillance using Pegasus, no conclusive evidence was found, despite concerns raised by activists, journalists, and politicians. The recent threat notifications from Apple underscore ongoing challenges in addressing sophisticated cyber threats and the need for continued vigilance in safeguarding digital privacy and security.
