Source: Rediff.com
Alert! Warning for iPhone users
A new fare issued for iPhone users of spyware in 92 countries has been issued. After finding that iPhone users are on target, they are immediately alerted about the attacks. Apple users are alerted through an email to explain the attack. India and other 91 countries are the victims of spyware attacks. The attackers said they had attempted to “remotely compromise the iPhone.”
The alert includes that “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID (xxx). Who you are or what you are doing is the reason why this attack is targeting you specifically.
In spite of the fact that it’s never possible to achieve complete certitude when detecting such an attack, Apple has high certitude in this warning; please take it seriously.” According to the email sent out by the iPhone makers, attackers obviously use malicious software to spy on users’ data and location.
Apple has sent these emails even before multiple alerts went out to over 150 countries in 2021. Apple didn’t reveal where the attack came from. In 2021, Apple blamed the NSO Group for being part of an attack on iPhone users.
In the last few months, Apple has issued many iOS updates, some of which are emergency security updates that can be used for spyware attacks, most probably when the iPhone issues have already been used in attacks before.
Malicious software can be provided in so-called zero-click attacks, which don’t require any interaction from an iPhone user. If these types of spyware attacks are successful, then attackers can listen to calls, read personal messages and emails, and even access any app. Overall, they can see everything on your iPhone screen.
All these things might sound worrying, but spyware attacks only target certain people, like journalists, dissidents, government workers, and businesses operating in certain sectors. Apple provides Lockdown Mode to use your iPhone, which is useful when you fall into these types of situations, and this mode is worth it.
If you are stuck in these situations, you can also get help from the human rights organisation Amnesty International’s Security Lab, which offers digital forensic support to high-risk human rights defenders, activists, journalists, and members of civil society.
