Apple has enhanced its threat notification system, now displaying alerts directly on the iPhone Lock Screen and in Settings to better alert users of targeted mercenary spyware, with warnings reaching over 110 countries since 2021.
Apple has widened the way it alerts people it believes have been singled out by mercenary spyware, adding warnings that now appear directly on the iPhone Lock Screen and in Settings. The change is intended to make high-risk notices harder to miss, while still backing up the alert with email and the user’s Apple Account page, according to Apple’s support guidance and Malwarebytes’ report on the update.
Apple says these threat notifications are reserved for users who may have been individually targeted by highly sophisticated spyware operations, usually linked to commercial surveillance firms and, in some cases, their government clients. On its support page, the company says it has alerted people in more than 150 countries since the programme began in 2021, with the latest wave reaching users in 110 countries.
The expansion comes against a backdrop of repeated global alerts. MacRumors reported last year that Apple warned users in 92 countries, while TechSpot said notifications had gone out across 98 countries, underscoring how far such campaigns can spread. Macworld later reported that Apple had warned iPhone owners worldwide about a broader mercenary spyware operation, although only a small number of recipients have publicly acknowledged receiving the messages.
Apple advises anyone who receives a warning to update devices promptly, use a strong passcode, enable two-factor authentication, and turn on Stolen Device Protection. The company also recommends Lockdown Mode for people at elevated risk. Malwarebytes added that users should verify the alert by signing into their Apple Account, where a genuine threat notification will also be listed, and seek specialist help such as Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline if they believe they are under attack.
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