iPhone users issued urgent warning over new spyware that infiltrates devices with no clicks
Apple users should update their devices immediately, after experts find a zero-click vulnerability spyware infiltrating iOS.
The tech company, Citizen Lab, found a new zero-click exploit chain.
The company investigates the government’s malicious software, which is intrusive software that has been developed by hackers and cybercriminals to steal data and protected information.
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John Scott-Railton, a researcher at the company, explained in a tweet that the spyware can infect the current iOS without the victim clicking, tapping, or opening any attachments.
In a post on X, he wrote: ‘Last week we @citizenlab discovered a new #Pegasus zero-click exploit chain (No clicking required to infect latest iOS!)."
Once they had found this virus, Citizen Lab disclosed their findings to Apple, who have since put out a new update, and are urging all users to update their devices, to prevent this from happening to them.
In their investigation, the researchers found that: “The exploit chain was capable of compromising iPhones running the latest version of iOS (16.6) without any interaction from the victim.”
Apple stated that one of the bugs, known as ‘CVE-2023-41064’, allowed iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches among just a few of their products that are vulnerable to attacks when processing ‘a maliciously crafted image’.
The other bug, ‘CVE-2023-41061’, could make devices vulnerable if they received a ‘maliciously crafted attachment’.
Apple has stated that it was 'aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited', but declined to comment further on the two bugs.
And this isn’t the only occasion that Apple has disclosed zero-day bugs this year.
A zero-day is a vulnerability in a computer system, unknown to anyone who is capable of eradicating it.
Until the vulnerability is gone, hackers can exploit it.
John continued in his Twitter thread about other ways you can avoid being hacked without knowing it.
One of the ways is to turn on ‘Lockdown’ mode.
But what is this?
Well good news is, it’s available to anyone with a recent iPhone and is sorted in seconds.
It locks down routes that hackers will often use to infect phones.
Citizen Lab is encouraging anyone who is in a position of power to do this immediately.
People have reacted to the announcement, one said: “Important news, security is worth every extra step!
“Thanks for everything you do to keep people on the web safe.”
Another added: “Thanks for the heads up, done!”
Topics: Technology, Apple, Hacks
Mia Williams