Apple has issued a global warning after detecting a fresh wave of sophisticated spyware attacks targeting iPhone users in over 100 countries.

The tech giant has begun notifying potentially affected users directly on their devices, alerting them to the risks posed by what it describes as "mercenary spyware", software designed to covertly monitor and extract data from targets.

These types of attacks are considered exceptionally rare and far more advanced than typical cybercrime or consumer malware, Apple said in a statement.

Since 2021, the company has sent out periodic threat notifications when identifying such incidents. In 2024 alone, Apple reported two major spyware campaigns, issuing warnings to users in 92 countries during the first wave and 98 countries in the second.

While Apple acknowledged that it is not always possible to confirm attacks with absolute certainty, it stated that it has high confidence in the reliability of the alerts it has issued.

The warning marks a growing concern over the use of spyware tools sold by private companies and deployed for surveillance purposes. Apple did not name the specific software involved or the suspected perpetrators behind the latest attacks.

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