Apple has issued a new series of notifications to customers it suspects have been targeted by spyware. The tech company stated it sent these alerts on Thursday to users in 110 countries, warning that their iPhones, iPads, or Macs may have been compromised by spyware typically used by governments.
The notifications are delivered directly to iPhone lock screens as push notifications, urging recipients to take action. Apple has updated the user experience to make it easier for those who receive an alert to access information on what to do next. An example notification reads: “Apple detected a mercenary spyware attack targeted at your iPhone. There are actions you can take now to protect your data and device.”
Users are advised to consider switching on Lockdown Mode, a security feature designed to make spyware attacks more difficult. Apple has not yet observed a case where a device was hacked while Lockdown Mode was enabled. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, described these new push notifications as a "big improvement" in encouraging people to seek help.