The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) confirmed that members of the Bundestag and other public figures received threat notifications from Apple. These alerts indicate that their iPhones may have been targeted by state-sponsored spyware.
Apple issues these warnings to users it suspects are targets of sophisticated cyberattacks. The company notes that such spyware can potentially access sensitive data, including messages and location history, often utilizing zero-click exploits that do not require user interaction.
While Apple does not confirm if a device was successfully compromised, the BSI has advised recipients to assume their devices are at risk. The German government stated it is investigating the incident, though it has not disclosed the identities of the affected officials.
The recent wave of alerts is global, with Apple notifying users across 99 countries. Filmmaker Radwan Mortada reported receiving a new notification, marking his second such alert since 2021. The identity of the party behind these latest attacks remains unknown.
The incident underscores the prevalence of commercial spyware, often purchased by governments from private vendors. Notably, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) previously acquired access to the Pegasus spyware developed by the NSO Group in 2019.
