Apple warns iPhone targets in 99 countries over sophisticated spyware

Apple has sent threat alerts to iPhone owners in 99 nations, cautioning them that their devices may have been targeted by advanced spyware campaigns. The notifications, which began reaching recipients late last month, have prompted official scrutiny in several countries, including Germany, where prominent officials and members of parliament were among those alerted.

Germany's Federal Office for Information Security confirmed that domestic lawmakers and other high-profile figures had been warned by Apple. The cybersecurity agency advised anyone who received an alert to operate under the assumption that their phone could be compromised. Stefan Kornelius, a spokesperson for the German federal government, stated that authorities are treating the situation with seriousness and investigating the suspected intrusions. He declined to clarify whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz received an alert.

The alerts reportedly began rolling out on October 29. While Apple has notified users across nearly a hundred jurisdictions, the tech company has not publicly named the entities behind the campaigns, nor has it verified the exact number of devices successfully breached.

Journalists are among those known to have received notices. Radwan Mortada, an investigative reporter and documentary maker based in Lebanon whose phone was previously targeted with Pegasus spyware in 2017 and 2021, confirmed he received an alert noting the 99-country scope. Ragip Soylu, the Turkey bureau chief for Middle East Eye, also revealed that he was sent a warning.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the attacks are thought to rely on zero-click exploits. Such methods allow operators to infiltrate a mobile operating system without requiring the owner to tap on a malicious link or download suspicious files. These sophisticated tools can cost millions of dollars to develop and deploy, granting operators broad access to stored messages, location tracking, and other private data.

Apple refers to these operations as mercenary spyware campaigns, noting that they specifically target select individuals such as activists, politicians, and investigative reporters rather than ordinary consumers. The company has dispatched similar security notifications multiple times each year since 2021, warning users in more than 150 countries to date.

Apple states that its genuine alerts show up directly on a device's Lock Screen and within Settings, and can also be viewed by logging into an official Apple account online. The firm emphasized that it never instructs recipients to click links, download external software, or reveal passwords, and it recommends that those affected turn on Lockdown Mode, keep their software current, and seek expert help from groups like the nonprofit Access Now.