Apple Alerts iPhone Users of New Spyware Attack

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If you are an iPhone user, you should be on high alert. After leaders and journalists, now spyware attacks like Pegasus could target your iPhone. In fact, Apple, the company that manufactures iPhones, has warned iPhone users in India that their devices could be vulnerable to attacks from spyware similar to Pegasus. As a result, iPhone users have received notifications from Apple on their phones.

The notification also states that spyware can take control of your device and compromise everything from your privacy to your financial security. This is the second time Apple has sent such a notification in India. Since 2021, the American tech company has sent such notifications to iPhone users in over 150 countries.

Apple says that these kinds of spyware attacks are far more advanced than regular cybercriminal activity or consumer malware. Apple has also warned that such cyber-attacks could lead to losses amounting to crores of rupees. In April this year, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (Cert-In) reported several vulnerabilities in the Apple operating systems for iPhones and iPads. The government agency stated that attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to gain control over your device.

In October 2023, Apple also sent similar notifications to iPhone users in several countries, including India. In fact, many leaders and journalists in India received such notifications on their iPhones, warning of a possible “state-sponsored” attack, indicating that government might be behind the attack.

Spyware that can hack your iPhone

The spyware can be used to read text messages on the device, listen to calls (call snooping), collect passwords, track location, access the device’s microphone and camera, and gather information from apps.

Now, it’s important to know how to detect if there is spyware on your phone. There are some signs to look for, such as rapid battery drain, overheating, unusual behavior of the operating system or apps, GPS and location functions turning on and off by themselves, sudden phone restarts, unexpected crashes, and rapid depletion of mobile data. If you notice these issues, it might indicate a spyware attack.

If you do suspect spyware on your phone, there are some steps you can take:

• Run a malware scan on your phone. Many mobile antivirus solutions can detect and remove spyware.
• Delete any suspicious apps you find on your phone.
• Check your download folder and delete any suspicious files.
• Update your operating system, as newer versions often come with better security features and upgrades to fight spyware.
• If the spyware persists even after these steps, perform a factory reset to remove the spyware from your system.