Individuals with iPads and iPhones are encouraged to update their devices as soon as possible.
According to CNN, on Monday, Apple updated its software for iPhones to address a security vulnerability that experts say was exploited by surveillance software.
The newspaper reported that information from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab revealed that mining of the software may have begun in February.
The team explains that hackers can get into a user’s phone without the user needing to click on any links.
The spyware is called Pegasus and was created by an Israeli company called NSO Group, an agency accused of being involved in the surveillance of journalists and human rights activists in many countries. family.
In the past, NSO said Its software is only sold to customers who have been tested for anti-terrorism and law enforcement purposes, but researchers say the claim is false and accuses they found many cases in which spyware was deployed on dissidents or journalists.
For example, in 2019, Citizen Lab analysts said Pegasus was used on the cell phone of the wife of a murdered Mexican journalist.
In response to the alleged actions of NSO, Apple created a flaw in its iMessage software that previously allowed hackers to break into phones.
“Attacks like those described are highly sophisticated, cost millions of dollars to develop, often have a short shelf life, and are used to target specific individuals.” Ivan Krstic, Apple’s head of Security Engineering and Architecture, said in a statement.
Krstic said Apple was quick to address the issue and that the security hole “wasn’t a threat to the majority of our users.”
Even so, security experts are still encouraging iPhone users to update their mobile devices as a precaution.
