Key Takeaways
Apple has issued global warnings to iPhone users about mercenary spyware attacks.
Only two iPhone owners have publicly confirmed receiving the alert so far.
The attacks target individuals because of their identity or work, especially journalists and activists.
If you haven’t received an alert, you’re likely not affected.
Keeping your iPhone updated is crucial to stay protected from such threats.
Apple this week sent warnings to iPhone owners worldwide in response to a major spyware campaign. Those who received the alert were advised that a “mercenary spyware attack” was trying to remotely compromise their device.
According to TechCrunch, as of Wednesday, only two iPhone owners had publicly confirmed receiving the warning. Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino wrote an article about his experience on Wednesday, while Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek posted about it on X (formerly Twitter).
But this is just the tip of the iceberg. In the warning message shared by Pellegrino, Apple stated that this alert is being sent to affected users in 100 countries, which is even larger than the warning covering 92 countries last spring. These attacks are intentionally intimidating — as Vlaardingerbroek described, it was “an attempt to scare and silence me” — and most recipients prefer not to draw more attention by revealing they were targeted.
Who Are the Targets?
The details and goals of these attacks remain unclear, but mercenary spyware campaigns, as the name suggests, are often run by private software companies looking to profit by working with government surveillance agencies.
Common targets include journalists and activists, who can be seen as troublesome by authoritarian governments. According to Apple’s warning, “this attack is targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do.”
Should You Be Worried?
Here’s the good news: if you didn’t receive an alert — and Apple has contacted affected users via both email and text message — there’s no need to panic.
Even though this is a remarkably large spyware campaign, it’s still highly targeted on an individual level. If you are among the targets, you likely have powerful adversaries, and spyware may only be one of many concerns.
How to Stay Safe?
While the chance of having a virus on your iPhone is low, here’s our usual advice to keep calm and stay protected:
Safety Tip Why It Matters
Keep your iPhone software up to date iOS updates patch security vulnerabilities Install new iOS versions promptly Spyware attacks exploit known iOS weaknesses Enable automatic updates Ensures you don’t miss critical security patches
Spyware attacks typically take advantage of flaws in iOS. When Apple becomes aware of such flaws, they patch them, and these fixes are included in iOS updates.
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