Apple has sent alerts this week to many people the company believes it is targeting with government spyware, according to two of the supposed targets.
In the past, Apple has sent similar alerts to targets and victims of spyware and directs them to contact a non -profit organization specializing in investigating such cyberspace. Other technology companies, such as Google and WhatsApp, have also been sending such alerts to their users in recent years.
Since Wednesday, only two people seem to have come forward to reveal that they were among those who received Apple alerts this week.
One is Ciro Pellegrino, an Italian journalist who works for electronic news exit Arsenal. Coy wrote in an article That he received an email and a text message from Apple on Tuesday, informed him that he was targeting Spyware. The message, according to Pellegrino, also said that he was not the only person he was aiming for.
“Today’s notice is sent to users who are infected with 100 countries,” the message said, according to Pellegrino’s article.
“Did this really happen? Yes, it’s not funny,” Pellegrino wrote.
The second person receiving an Apple notice is Eva VlaardingerBroek, a Dutch right activist, who posted on X on Wednesday.
TechCrunch event
Berkeley, ca
|
June 5
Book now
“Apple detected a targeted Spyware Mercenary attack against your iPhone,” said Apple Alert, according to A screenshot that appears in a video That VlaardingerBroek published in X. “This attack is probably targeting you specifically because of who you are or what you are doing.
Reacting to the notice, VlaardingerBroek said this was an “attempt to intimidate me, an attempt to silence me, obviously”.
Neither Pellegrino nor VlaardingerBroek responded to TechCrunch’s request for comments.
Contact us
Do you have more information about the Hacking Government Groups, Zero Developers or Spyware Manufacturers? From a device and non-work network, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-bicchierai safely on the signal on +1 917 257 1382, or through the telegram and keybase @lorenzofb or email.
It is not yet clear what the spyware campaign is, if known, Apple’s notifications are reported. Apple has alerted users to dozens of countries twice last year that they are targeting unspecified spyware.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comments.
Pellegrino is the second Italian journalist this year to be alerted to be a target of this type of spyware, which is sometimes referred to as a “mercenary” spyware, as it often develops by companies that then sell technology to governments.
In February, Whatsapp announced Fanpage of Pellegrino Francesco Cancellato that the company “interrupted the activities of a spyware company we believe has attacked your device”.
In the case of Cancellato, according to Whatsapp, Spyware was made by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company. Citizen Lab, a digital rights organization that has explored Spyware for more than a decade, confirmed that they are investigating these attacks aimed at WhatsApp users.
After Cancellato came, two other Italians, working for MEditerranea saving peopleA non -governmental organization that helps rescue the immigrants also said they were Paragon’s goals.
Paragon reportedly reduces ties with the client of the Italian government after these revelations.
