Apple meets Thai officials after issuing iPhone spyware alerts
What's the story
Apple recently met with Thai government officials after issuing a wave of iPhone alerts about mercenary spyware attacks. The meetings came after The Financial Times and TechCrunch reported that Apple had issued new threat notifications to potential spyware targets in 99 countries. The alerts warned them they may have been targeted by mercenary spyware attacks, raising questions about who may have targeted Thai politicians and why.
Official reaction
No evidence linking attempted attacks to Pegasus spyware
Following the meeting with Apple representatives, Thailand's Digital Economy and Society Minister Chaichanok Chidchob clarified that receiving an alert doesn't necessarily mean a device was successfully compromised.
He also added that there is no evidence so far linking the latest attempted attacks to Pegasus, the spyware developed by Israel's NSO Group.
The recent wave of alerts came on October 29, following another round in August when Apple notified potential targets in 110 countries.
Security recommendations
Apple advises users to enable Lockdown Mode
Apple has not disclosed what triggers these notifications to avoid giving attackers a way to bypass detection in the future.
However, the company has advised recipients of the alerts to enable Lockdown Mode and seek expert security assistance.
The move is part of Apple's ongoing efforts to protect its users from potential threats posed by mercenary spyware attacks.