Apple Issues 'Unprecedented' Wave of Mercenary Spyware Alerts Across 90 Countries

In what threat intelligence researchers describe as an unprecedented campaign, Apple has dispatched threat notifications to users across more than 90 countries, warning them that their iPhones were targeted by sophisticated mercenary spyware. The alerts mark one of the largest single-day notification waves since Apple introduced its threat detection notification system.

According to forensic researchers at Citizen Lab and Amnesty International, the attacks leverage a zero-click exploit chain targeting iOS 19 image processing subsystems. The exploit allows remote attackers to compromise devices silently without requiring user interaction, granting access to encrypted messages, location data, and microphone feeds.

Apple strongly advised impacted individuals to enable Lockdown Mode immediately and update their devices to the latest iOS release, while government regulators face renewed pressure to sanction commercial spyware vendors.