Targeted by Pegasus-Like Spyware? Apple Will Now Alert You Directly on Your iPhone

Apple has sent out another batch of threat alerts to users it thinks may have been targeted by mercenary spyware. This week, affected users in 110 countries were notified. Alerts are now visible directly on the iPhone Lock Screen and within the Settings app, warning them a suspected spyware attack and advising them on steps to secure their devices.

Based on a newly released support document, Apple stated that the threat notifications are intended to warn people who could be specifically targeted using mercenary spyware. According to Apple, such threats are very advanced, highly costly and intended for very few people, not everyone.

The company also highlights that a campaign of mercenary spyware is quite different from any other cyberattack because it is always conducted on specific individuals. However, Apple also states that there is no risk to the majority of people from such types of threats.

Apple now sending alerts directly to iPhone when someone is targeted by Pegasus-like spyware

These kinds of spyware attacks are highly targeted and are typically carried out by government-backed hackers or private companies developing surveillance tools for governments.

Although Apple agrees that public research links such spyware to certain organizations, the company claims that the threats identified through their own notifications are not attributed to a particular attacker or country. Such notifications are meant to alert potential victims to safeguard themselves.

According to Apple, it uses its own threat intelligence and investigation tools to detect signs that a particular iPhone is a victim of mercenary spyware. These notifications are described as high confidence alerts, and although the company emphasizes it, they do not claim 100% accuracy.

At the moment, the specific methods of detecting mercenary spyware on user devices have not been disclosed. The reason is that this information might help spyware developers update their toolkits.

In addition, the company notes that it has started sending such notifications once per year since 2021. Up until now, these alerts have been sent out to users in more than 150 countries.

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