In a disturbing development that raises concerns about the security of smart devices globally, cybersecurity experts have discovered a complex spyware capable of hacking into large numbers of iPhones and stealing their information.
Researchers reported that this program, called “Darksword,” was recently spotted in the context of a massive hacking campaign.
According to available information, the malicious program has been embedded in dozens of websites, where it can infect users’ devices simply by browsing these sites.
The attack targets devices running older versions of iOS, allowing attackers to access sensitive data without the user’s knowledge.
The researchers explained that these attacks depend on security weaknesses that were later addressed, but a large number of users did not update their devices, making them vulnerable to hacking.
Security companies estimate that between 220 and 270 million iPhones may still be vulnerable to this type of attack, as they are still running old versions of the system.
This number reflects the seriousness of the threat, especially given the wide global spread of Apple devices.
The researchers also pointed out that this tool is not the only one, as another spyware was discovered earlier this month, indicating a growing market for advanced hacking software.
Investigations revealed that the attacks were not limited to one geographical area, but rather extended to European, Arab and Asian countries, with evidence indicating the involvement of commercial parties and others suspected of being linked to these countries.
Some operations were also linked to companies specializing in digital surveillance.
Experts believe that the spread of these tools reflects a shift in the nature of attacks, as they are no longer limited to limited espionage operations, but have become widely used for financial purposes such as stealing data and digital currencies.
For its part, Apple confirmed that the vulnerabilities exploited by the program had been fixed in previous updates, stressing that the risk is limited only to devices that have not been updated.
It also explained that it blocked harmful websites through the Safari browser to limit the spread of attacks. She called on users to constantly update their device systems, stressing that this represents the basic line of defense for maintaining data security. (Erm News)
