Apple has issued a warning to users in India and 91 other countries, alerting them to a potential “mercenary spyware attack.” In its communication, Apple refrained from using the term “state-sponsored” previously employed in such alerts.
The tech giant disclosed that the attackers attempted to remotely compromise iPhones, according to an email notification obtained by Reuters.
Previously, Apple’s website stated that its threat notifications aimed to inform and aid users potentially targeted by “state-sponsored attackers.” However, the latest update on the website describes the notifications as assistance for users “who might have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks.”
Apple acknowledged the historical association of such attacks with state actors, including private companies developing mercenary spyware like the Pegasus spyware by the Israeli firm NSO Group.
The decision to remove the term “state-sponsored” follows pressure from the Indian government, which objected to linking such breaches to state actors, as per a source familiar with the matter.
In October, following Apple’s messages warning of “state-sponsored” attacks, opposition politicians in India accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of attempting to hack into their mobile phones.
The source mentioned extensive discussions between Apple and Indian officials before the release of the latest alerts. It remains unclear if other governments have raised similar concerns.
Neither Apple nor the Indian government immediately responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The email notification emphasized that mercenary spyware attacks are rare and significantly more sophisticated than typical cybercriminal activities or malware.
Apple has issued such threat notifications several times a year since 2021, with notifications sent to users in over 150 countries to date, the email stated.