Newsletter
No operating system is safe from hackers and malware. While we typically hear about unsavory software on Android phones, the folks in Cupertino are racking their brains about an attack targeting iPhone users. According to a new report, Apple is warning iPhone users in 92 countries about a potential spyware attack.
Spyware is a bit of software that enters your device and surreptitiously monitors information like internet usage data. Then, it typically relays this information to advertisers. This is so that advertisers can have a better idea of the kind of things they like so that it can push more relevant advertisements to you. With a name like “spyware,” it sounds like bad news, and a lot of the time, it is.
Apple warns numerous iPhone users about a potential spyware attack
While spyware isn’t intrinsically bad, many bad actors could use it for nefarious purposes. If a company warns you about a spyware attack, you do not want to take it lightly. Well, users in 92 countries are getting a notification from Apple with a pretty scary message. “Apple detected that you are being targeted by a mercenary spyware attack that is trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID -xxx-,”.
So, the company is letting people know that there’s potentially spyware targeting the devices that could steal important data. As you know, many people keep important data such as bank account information on their phones. Also, since their phones have access to their locations, that is also sensitive information that can be stolen. “This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you do. Although it’s never possible to achieve absolute certainty when detecting such attacks, Apple has high confidence in this warning — please take it seriously,” the company added.
That’s scary for all of the users affected. What’s even scarier is the fact that Apple can’t quite provide more information about what’s going on. So, these individuals are left in the dark, basically. The company said that this is because providing more information could possibly help attackers avoid being detected.
So, if you have received this message, you’re going to want to be careful with how you use your phone. This is going to be an ongoing story, so you’ll want to stay tuned for more updates.