The notification would have reached several iPhone users in 92 countries around the world. According to Apple, this is not trawling but targeted attacks. In its statement, Apple only spoke about one specific spyware: NSO Group’s Pegasus.
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The first notifications arrived on the evening of Wednesday 10 April. According to what the US magazine reports TechCrunch, Apple would have sent a series of alerts to iPhone users in 92 countries around the world. The warning was the same for everyone: their device could have been targeted by a spyware attack.
The alert sent by iPhone is interesting for two reasons. The first is that it is not aimed at everyone. Users are selected. In fact, the message reads: “It is likely that you are a victim of this attack due to the role you play.” And it adds: “Apple has a lot of faith in this warning: take it seriously.”
The second is the formula used. In fact, the threat is always defined as “mercenary spyware”. In Apple documents the only malware that is associated with this definition is Pegasus, a spyware developed by the Israeli NSO Group. The name of this product is very well known in the world of cybersecurity. Released in 2016, it has been used to spy on journalists, activists and politicians in several countries around the world.
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What is spyware and why is it dangerous
As Apple makes clear, spyware attacks are not like the trawling fishing. They are precise and very expensive attacks that aim to attack carefully chosen targets. They are installed remotely on the smartphone and are able to read all the information stored inside them. To activate them, it only takes a moment: even just a moment open a link or download an email attachment.
Not only. From the information collected on Pegasus in some cases it would also be possible to organize what is called a zero-click exploit. In these cases the spyware is installed on the smartphone without any interaction on the part of its owner. Once downloaded onto the phone, this malware will have access to messages, apps, calls and above all to microphones and camera, so as to always be able to track theuser activities.
