Apple Issues Warning: Users in 99 Countries Targeted by Spyware
A Global Cyber Threat and Apple's Warning
Apple has issued official notifications to users in 99 countries, indicating that they may have been targeted by "mercenary" spyware attacks. These alerts are designed to inform individuals—including politicians, journalists, and activists—who have been specifically singled out by these threats.
While Apple has not identified the perpetrators or specific motives behind these attacks, the company stresses that these warnings are not random. The attacks often employ "zero-click" vulnerabilities, meaning hackers do not require any user interaction, such as clicking a suspicious link, to compromise a device. Often, knowing the target's phone number is sufficient.
The Incident Involving German Officials
The situation is particularly notable in Germany, where government members and lawmakers received similar notifications last week. The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) issued an urgent warning, advising recipients to assume their devices are no longer secure. While the German government is investigating the incident at the highest level, officials have not confirmed whether high-ranking politicians were among those targeted.
Beyond Germany, the threat is global. For instance, Beirut-based filmmaker Radwan Mortada shared the notification he received from Apple on X. Mortada noted that he had previously been a target of the notorious Pegasus spyware, suggesting that such attacks are often highly targeted and persistent in nature.
How to Protect Yourself
Apple advises anyone who receives such a warning to seek immediate assistance from cybersecurity experts. The company also strongly encourages users to enable "Lockdown Mode." This feature significantly restricts device functionality to minimize the attack surface, blocking message attachments, certain web browser technologies, and incoming connections.
Although there have been no reports of mass notifications regarding these types of attacks in Georgia, it is crucial for high-risk individuals—such as journalists, activists, and public officials—to heed Apple's security recommendations. In the modern digital world, cybersecurity is no longer just a technical detail; it is an essential component of personal and political security.