France has confirmed that Apple recently alerted users in the country about being targeted in a sophisticated spyware attack campaign through official threat notifications sent earlier this month.
According to France's national cybersecurity response unit,...
According to France's national cybersecurity response unit, Apple on September 3 issued notifications to affected customers whose Apple devices linked to their iCloud accounts "have been targeted and would be potentially compromised" by spyware attacks[1]. This confirmation aligns with Apple's ongoing global campaign to warn users in over 100 countries about mercenary spyware threats, which are highly selective cyber intrusions targeting individuals based on identity or activity, often associated with private surveillance companies selling tools to governments[1][2][3][5].
Apple’s notifications explicitly state a "targeted mercenary...
Apple’s notifications explicitly state a "targeted mercenary spyware attack" was detected against the user’s iPhone, emphasizing the seriousness and specificity of the threat. Recipients are advised to take the alerts seriously and seek assistance, such as from digital security organizations like Access Now[1][2]. This wave of alerts follows previous campaigns earlier in 2025 and since 2021, with victims including journalists, commentators, and activists internationally. Notably, France’s President Emmanuel Macron reportedly changed phones in 2021 after his device was targeted by NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware, a notorious example of such mercenary spyware[1].
While the exact number of French victims and details about t...
While the exact number of French victims and details about the spyware used in this latest notification remain undisclosed, Apple’s notifications reflect a broader strategy to combat sophisticated surveillance attacks by informing potential targets promptly. Apple has cautioned that revealing too much detail about detection methods could enable attackers to evade future detection, hence the limited public disclosure[4]. The alerts are sent via iMessage, email, and Apple ID website notifications to ensure the affected users receive timely warnings[5].
This development underscores ongoing global concerns over sp...
This development underscores ongoing global concerns over spyware attacks targeting high-profile individuals and vulnerable groups, highlighting the critical role of companies like Apple in cybersecurity defense and transparency.
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 3:50:17 PM
France has confirmed that Apple sent spyware threat notifications to affected users on September 3, alerting them to potential compromises linked to their iCloud accounts, though the exact number of notified individuals remains unclear[1]. Industry experts note that Apple’s warnings offer “high confidence” these attacks are linked to victims’ identities or activities, with victims like Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino describing spyware as giving attackers full access to their data[3]. Analysts emphasize Apple’s ongoing efforts to notify users across more than 100 countries about sophisticated mercenary spyware, underscoring the scale and persistence of these global cyber threats[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:00:20 PM
France’s national cybersecurity response unit confirmed that Apple sent out spyware attack notifications on September 3 to users whose devices linked to their iCloud accounts were potentially compromised, highlighting government awareness of this active threat[1]. While the exact number of affected individuals in France remains undisclosed, the French government acknowledged Apple's proactive alerting as part of a broader international effort to counter mercenary spyware campaigns targeting high-risk users[1][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:10:18 PM
France has confirmed that Apple sent spyware attack notifications to affected users on September 3, signaling an escalation in Apple’s proactive cybersecurity measures amid growing global spyware threats. This latest alert campaign is part of Apple's ongoing efforts in 2025 and follows its warnings to users in 98 countries earlier this year, marking a notable intensification from the 92 countries notified in April and extending Apple’s reach to over 150 countries since 2021. These notifications reflect a strategic shift in the competitive landscape as Apple increasingly positions itself as a leader in device security against mercenary spyware, challenging spyware vendors and reinforcing user trust in its ecosystem[1][2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:20:25 PM
France has confirmed that Apple alerted users on September 3 about recent spyware attacks, indicating that at least one device linked to the customer’s iCloud was potentially compromised, though exact victim numbers remain undisclosed[1]. Experts note this is part of a broader global wave, with Apple warning users in around 100 countries of “mercenary spyware attacks,” a term Apple adopted recently to emphasize private surveillance threats rather than state-sponsored hacking[2][3]. Notably, victims such as Italian journalist Cyrus Pellegrino described the spyware as granting full attacker access to their data, underscoring the severity of these intrusions, while industry observers highlight Apple’s increasingly proactive notification strategy since 2021 as vital for user defense[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:30:23 PM
France has confirmed that Apple alerted users, including those in France, about recent mercenary spyware attacks on September 3, signaling Apple's continued proactive stance in global cybersecurity defense[1]. This latest notification campaign is part of Apple’s broader effort this year, having warned iPhone users in 98 countries in July and over 150 countries since 2021, highlighting increased competitive pressure in the cybersecurity landscape for mobile platforms[2][5]. Apple's shift in framing these threats as “mercenary spyware attacks” rather than “state-sponsored” reflects a strategic repositioning amid evolving global spyware threats and intensifying competition with cybersecurity firms and rival smartphone makers[2][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:40:22 PM
France has confirmed that Apple alerted users in early September about spyware attacks targeting their devices, part of a wider global campaign spanning 100 countries, including France[1][4][5]. Experts note Apple’s shift in terminology from "state-sponsored" to "mercenary spyware attacks," underscoring increased sophistication and commercial availability of such threats; Apple warns that revealing detection methods could help attackers evade future identification[2]. Prominent victims like Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek have publicly received these alerts, with security specialists emphasizing the importance of such notifications for enabling affected users to seek expert help and strengthen defenses[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 4:50:23 PM
France has confirmed that Apple sent notifications on September 3 to users potentially targeted by a mercenary spyware attack, alerting them that at least one device linked to their iCloud account was compromised, according to France’s national cybersecurity response unit[1]. While the exact number of affected individuals in France remains unclear, Apple has notified users across 98 to 100 countries in this ongoing global campaign of sophisticated spyware intrusions[1][2][5]. Notably, victims include high-profile individuals like Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek, who publicly confirmed receiving Apple’s verified threat alerts this week[3][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:00:24 PM
France has confirmed that Apple sent out spyware attack notifications to affected users earlier this month, acknowledging that at least one device linked to a customer’s iCloud account was potentially compromised. Experts note this reflects Apple’s ongoing effort to combat “mercenary spyware attacks” worldwide, with notifications dispatched to users in about 100 countries, including high-profile cases like Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek, both describing the attacks as targeted attempts to intimidate[1][4][5]. Industry analysis highlights Apple’s increasingly cautious language, shifting from “state-sponsored” to “mercenary” spyware, indicating a broader threat landscape and the company’s sensitive detection methods designed to avoid alerting attackers[2].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:10:22 PM
France has confirmed that Apple sent out spyware attack notifications to affected users on September 3, alerting them that at least one device linked to their iCloud account was potentially compromised in a recent mercenary spyware campaign. The French national cybersecurity unit acknowledged the alerts but did not specify the number of individuals notified or the spyware involved[1]. This fits into a broader global context where Apple has warned users in about 98 to 100 countries this year, describing the threats as "mercenary spyware attacks" targeting high-profile individuals such as journalists and activists[2][3][5].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:20:23 PM
France has confirmed that Apple sent out notifications on September 3 to users whose devices were targeted in a recent spyware attack, indicating potential compromise linked to their iCloud accounts[1]. While the exact number of French victims remains undisclosed, this notification is part of Apple’s broader global campaign warning users in nearly 100 countries about sophisticated mercenary spyware attacks[1][2]. French cybersecurity authorities emphasize that these alerts highlight the persistent threat of elite spyware and the systemic challenges in balancing security with civil liberties[5].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:30:27 PM
France has confirmed that Apple alerted users on September 3 about recent spyware attacks targeting their devices, though the exact number of affected individuals in France remains unknown[1]. Public reactions include concern and defiance; Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino, one of the notified victims, confirmed the message was sent globally to users in 100 countries and described the experience as invasive, stating the spyware gave attackers full data access[2][3]. Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek called the attack an "attempt to intimidate me, an attempt to silence me," but said such efforts would not succeed[2][3].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:40:25 PM
France has confirmed that Apple alerted users on September 3 about recent spyware attacks, part of a global campaign affecting users in 98 to 100 countries, including France[1][2][3]. Public reactions include strong concern and distrust, exemplified by Italian journalist Ciro Pellegrino who described extreme precautions like silencing his home and placing his phone in a microwave after receiving Apple's warning, and Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek who dismissed the spyware attempt as an intimidation tactic but stated "it won’t work"[3][4]. These notifications underscore widespread anxiety about mercenary spyware targeting individuals due to their identity or work, prompting calls for increased cybersecurity vigilance.
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 5:50:32 PM
France’s cybersecurity unit confirmed that Apple sent threat notifications on September 3 to users potentially targeted by mercenary spyware attacks, signaling compromised devices linked to their iCloud accounts[1]. Experts highlight Apple’s cautious approach in revealing limited details to prevent attackers from evading detection, with the company shifting language from "state-sponsored" to “mercenary spyware attacks” to reflect evolving threat actors[2]. Notable victims include journalists like Italian Ciro Pellegrino and Dutch commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek, with Apple’s alerts emphasizing high confidence in targeted intrusions related to victims' identity or work, underscoring growing concerns over surveillance’s impact on press freedom and activism[3][4].
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 6:00:22 PM
Following France's confirmation that Apple alerted users about recent spyware attacks on September 3, 2025, Apple’s stock experienced a slight dip, falling approximately 1.2% in early trading as investors weighed the security risks and potential regulatory pressures tied to ongoing spyware vulnerabilities. Market analysts noted concerns that rising spyware alerts could affect Apple’s reputation for device security, potentially influencing consumer confidence and future sales[1]. However, some investors viewed Apple's proactive threat notifications as a sign of robust cybersecurity measures, helping limit losses by midday trading.
🔄 Updated: 9/11/2025, 6:10:23 PM
France’s national cybersecurity unit confirmed that Apple sent threat notifications on September 3 to users whose devices linked to their iCloud accounts were targeted by mercenary spyware attacks, indicating potential device compromise[1]. These alerts, part of Apple’s ongoing detection efforts since 2021, use advanced heuristics to identify sophisticated spyware like Pegasus and notify victims in over 100 countries, reflecting the global and high-cost nature of these targeted intrusions[2][4]. The technical implication underscores that, despite aggressive patching, elite spyware remains active, necessitating rapid updates and enhanced forensic support to mitigate ongoing covert attacks[3].