Apple Inc. now refers to “state-sponsored attackers” as mercenaries in email notifications to affected customers, and has also changed that language in support documents on its website.
The iPhone maker’s move comes months after the Indian government announced a “push” to allow authorities to ban hacking attempts against political leaders, journalists and activists who have been repeatedly warned of unauthorized access to their phones by spyware such as Pegasus. agency bought in 2017.
Apple discovered that attackers were trying to “remotely destroy the iPhone,” it said in a notification email sent to targeted users seen by Reuters. The company previously said on its website that its threat notifications were intended to inform and possibly help users. targeting “state-sponsored attackers”.
However, an update to Apple’s website on Wednesday said the threat notifications were intended to help users “who may have been the individual targets of mercenary espionage attacks”.
It also noted that such attacks have historically been linked to government agencies, including private companies. the development of mercenary espionage programs, such as the Pegasus espionage programs of the Israeli NSO Group.
Apple removed the term “state-sponsored” from the description of threat notifications after repeated pressure from the Indian government to attribute such breaches to state actors, according to a source with direct knowledge who warned of “state” attacks.
Following Apple’s October warnings of “state-sponsored” attacks, opposition lawmakers in India charged that the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attempting to hack into their phones.
Apple had extensive discussions with Indian authorities before issuing the latest warnings, the source added. It was not clear whether other governments have expressed similar concerns Apple and the Indian government did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
The statement said that espionage attacks by mercenaries are rare and far more sophisticated than ordinary cybercriminal activity or malware. email.
Apple has sent such threat notifications several times a year since 2021, the notification email said, adding that it has so far notified users in more than 150 countries.
