Technology giant Apple has warned some iPhone users in India about a possible “mercenary spyware attack” that could compromise their device’s security. This is the second notification sent to users in India and 98 other countries worldwide.
Apple describes the potential attack as “sporadic” and “vastly more sophisticated” than typical cybercriminal activity. These attacks, similar to those using Pegasus from the NSO Group, are individually targeted and can cost millions of dollars.
In April, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) flagged multiple vulnerabilities in Apple’s operating system for iPhone and iPad, including flaws in Safari web browser versions before 17.4.1 iOS. These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on targeted devices.
Since 2021, Apple has sent similar notifications to users in over 150 countries, including a warning of a “state-sponsored” attack on devices in October 2023. The company urges users to be cautious and take necessary precautions to protect their devices from potential spyware attacks.
