Apple Warns Indian Users & 91 Countries of 'Mercenary Spyware' Attacks

Apple has sent fresh threat notifications to iPhone users in India and 91 other countries, warning them that their devices may have been targeted by "mercenary spyware" attacks.

According to a report by Reuters, Apple informed targeted users that attackers had attempted to "compromise" their iPhones using sophisticated tools like the Pegasus spyware developed by Israeli firm NSO Group.

Notably, Apple has dropped the term "state-sponsored" that it had previously used to describe such cyber attacks. On its website, the company now refers to them as "mercenary spyware attacks, " historically associated with state actors or private firms working on their behalf.

It marks a shift in Apple's stance amid pressure from governments, including India's, to not link breaches directly to states. Last year, the firm had warned Indian politicians and journalists of potential "state-sponsored attacks", which the Indian government refuted.

Experts say mercenary spyware like Pegasus is extremely costly and complex, deployed only against a small number of targets. However, their use ahead of General Elections in India and other nations has raised concerns.

Apple claimed it could not reveal more details to avoid helping attackers evade detection. Instead, it advised protective measures, such as cautioning against unfamiliar links and working with cybersecurity agencies to counter the threats.

While mercenary spyware attacks are rare, Apple has sent hundreds of such notifications worldwide since 2021. Investigations in India have so far yielded little evidence on prior allegations of illegal surveillance through Pegasus.