Apple and Google Alert Users Worldwide After New Spyware Activity Surfaces

Evidence shows that certain people have been targeted by malicious actors, often linked to governments or state-backed groups.

Apple and Google confirmed last week that they have issued a new round of threat notifications to users around the world. The companies say these alerts are meant to warn people when there is evidence they have been targeted by malicious actors, often linked to governments or state-backed groups.

Apple told Reuters that the latest batch of warnings went out on Dec. 2, though the company did not reveal how many people were affected or which actors were believed to be behind the attempted intrusions. Apple only mentioned to Reuters that “to date we have notified users in over 150 countries in total.”

These notices are part of Apple’s long-running system of reaching out directly to individuals who may have been singled out in targeted ...