Germany warns lawmakers and ministers their iPhones may have been targeted by spyware
Members of Germany’s parliament, the Bundestag, and of the federal government received warnings from Apple that their iPhones may have been targeted by “mercenary spyware,” Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger confirmed on Sunday, Euronews and tagesschau reported. It is not known who is behind it or how many people were alerted.
What happened: The alerts began reaching phones on October 29, according to a letter from the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) seen by the broadcaster ARD, tagesschau reported. Wildberger confirmed ARD’s report on the program Bericht aus Berlin and said the BSI had written to everyone affected. He did not say who received the alerts.
What the warning means: Apple sends threat notifications when it believes a user has been individually targeted, Euronews reported. The notification does not show whether an attack succeeded, so the BSI advised recipients to assume, as a precaution, that their device may be compromised. According to the BSI, spyware of this kind can reach messages, including those on encrypted apps, as well as calls, contacts, calendars and location data, and can switch on a phone’s microphone and camera.
Who is behind it: Neither Apple nor German authorities have said, Euronews reported. Apple does not say what triggered a notification and does not attribute attacks to specific attackers, tagesschau reported.