05-05-2025
Apple notifies iPhone users in 100 countries of serious threat after believing they were targeted with government spyware
Apple has notified iPhone users in 100 countries of a serious threat to their devices.
This is after many believe that they were targeted with government spyware.
At least two people have confirmed that they were warned by the tech giant of a possible cybersecurity threat.
iPhone users in as many as 100 countries have reported that they have been targeted with malicious messages.
It was reported by TechCrunch that one person who received a warning message from Apple is Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and the other is Dutch right-wing commentator Eva I got a verified threat notification from Apple stating they detected a mercenary spyware attack against my talking spyware like I know for sure right now is that someone is trying to intimidate me.I have a message for them: It won't work.
— Eva Vlaardingerbroek (@EvaVlaar) April 30, 2025
Vlaardingerbroek took to X, formerly Twitter, to share screenshots and a video of the apparent warning message she received.
In a post on social media, she wrote: 'Yesterday I got a verified threat notification from Apple stating they detected a mercenary spyware attack against my iPhone.
'We're talking spyware like Pegasus.
'All I know for sure right now is that someone is trying to intimidate me.
'I have a message for them: It won't work.'
The message that she claims she received on her iPhone read: 'This attack is likely targeting you specifically because of who you are and 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 firm has not given any indication as to where the cyber attack has originated from.
On the Apple website, it details information about the way the company will warn its users.
It said: 'Apple threat notifications are designed to inform and assist users who may have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks, likely because of who they are or what they do.
'Such attacks are vastly more complex than regular cybercriminal activity and consumer malware, as mercenary spyware attackers apply exceptional resources to target a very small number of specific individuals and their devices.
'Mercenary spyware attacks cost millions of dollars and often have a short shelf life, making them much harder to detect and prevent. The vast majority of users will never be targeted by such attacks.'
It was reported by EnGadget that last year, Apple sent similar spyware attack warnings to users in 92 countries.
Since 2021, users in over 150 countries have been contacted by the company to make them aware of similar possible attacks.
If you've received a similar message from Apple then it might be worth checking your own device and tightening cybersecurity messages.
