Apple this week updated its spyware threat notification system to alert and assist users identified as being targeted mercenary spyware attacks.
To date, Apple has identified and notified users in more than 150 countries who were targeted by these attacks.
Such spyware attacks target individuals largely because of who they are and what they do, Apple said. While most people will never be targeted by these types of attacks, a small number of people – journalists, activists, politicians and the like – will potentially fall victim to them.
Apple said that once spyware is detected it will notify the user within two days. However, the vendor provides threat actor attribution.
In his opinionApple pointed the finger at it NSO Group, one of the private companies developing the Pegasus mercenary spyware used in such attacks. “According to public reporting and research conducted by civil society organizations, technology companies and journalists, individually targeted attacks of such exceptional cost and complexity have historically been associated with state actors, including private companies,” reads the warning on the support page of Apple.
If an individual receives a threat notification, Apple recommends seeking help from Apple or a third party. Apple notifications never ask the user to click on any link or install an application; the threat notification can be checked by simply going to apply.apple.com, where the notification will be at the top of the page.