NEW DELHI: Apple has warned users in 92 countries, including in India, about an ongoing Pegasus-like spyware attack that targets a very small number of individuals – often journalists, activists, politicians and diplomats.
Though deployed against a small number of individuals and often involving exceptional costs, mercenary spyware attacks are “ongoing and global”, according to an Apple threat notification issued on April 10 that indicated that such attacks have historically been associated with state actors.
“Apple threat notifications assist users who may have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks. 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,” it said.
It has come at a time when more than 50 countries, including India, are going for elections this year.
Mercenary spyware attacks cost millions of dollars and have a short shelf life, making them much harder to detect and prevent.
Cybersecurity watchdog CERT-In also referred to Apple’s warning and advised users to be vigilant and upgrade their software.
Though deployed against a small number of individuals and often involving exceptional costs, mercenary spyware attacks are “ongoing and global”, according to an Apple threat notification issued on April 10 that indicated that such attacks have historically been associated with state actors.
“Apple threat notifications assist users who may have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware attacks. 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,” it said.
It has come at a time when more than 50 countries, including India, are going for elections this year.
Mercenary spyware attacks cost millions of dollars and have a short shelf life, making them much harder to detect and prevent.
Cybersecurity watchdog CERT-In also referred to Apple’s warning and advised users to be vigilant and upgrade their software.