Apple warns German politicians of possible iPhone spyware compromise

Apple sent targeted threat notifications to senior German politicians, including members of the Bundestag and ministers, warning their iPhones may have been compromised by mercenary spyware. Germany's BSI ordered recipients to assume their devices are infected.

Apple sent unusual security alerts to senior politicians in Germany, including members of the Bundestag and federal ministers, stating that their iPhones were targeted in a cyberattack using advanced "mercenary spyware." The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) went on alert and sent warning letters to recipients, instructing them to assume their devices were compromised. German Digital Minister Carsten Wildberger confirmed the details in an interview with ARD, calling the incident disturbing. The article notes that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was documented in the Knesset with stickers on his iPhone's camera lenses, apparently out of fear of hacking, and emphasizes that senior government officials worldwide are prime targets for digital espionage.