Apple Sends Spyware Alerts to Users in 110 Countries
Apple sent mercenary spyware alerts across 110 countries, adding lock screen guidance and urging users to enable Lockdown Mode and seek help immediately.
Summary
Apple told TechCrunch it sent threat notifications on August 13, 2026, to customers targeted by mercenary spyware in 110 countries. Since beginning the alerts in 2021, Apple has notified users in more than 150 countries, reflecting the global spread of surveillance tools typically used by governments. The warnings cover suspected attacks against iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but do not establish that a device was successfully compromised.
Apple’s updated system places an action prompt on the iPhone lock screen, links recipients to assistance, and recommends enabling Lockdown Mode. Alerts also arrive by email and when users sign in to their Apple account. Apple says it has found no case of a device being hacked while Lockdown Mode was enabled. John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab who highlighted the latest alerts on X, called the push notifications a major improvement because they encourage victims to seek help and can expose broader campaigns. He said Apple’s warnings enabled investigations into many additional cases, including Poland’s scandal over the former government’s spyware use against political rivals. Such attacks remain rare, but governments have increasingly deployed proliferating surveillance technology against critics and civil society members.
Positives
- Users in 110 countries received Apple’s latest warnings about suspected mercenary spyware targeting.
- Lockdown Mode has protected every enabled device known to Apple from successful hacking.
- Lock screen prompts now give recipients faster access to protective steps and specialist assistance.
- Email and Apple account alerts provide additional channels if users miss the iPhone notification.
- Citizen Lab says Apple’s alerts have triggered investigations uncovering many more spyware cases.
Risks & concerns
- More than 150 countries have had Apple customers receive spyware warnings since alerts began in 2021.
- Mercenary spyware may target iPhones, iPads, and Macs without victims initially knowing whether compromise succeeded.
- Governments have abused proliferating surveillance tools against critics, political rivals, and civil society members.
- Poland’s former government used spyware against rivals, an abuse exposed through investigations prompted by Apple notifications.
- Spyware attacks are rare, but recipients must act immediately because an alert can indicate a targeted intrusion attempt.