Apple has warned multiple German lawmakers and government representatives that their phones may have been targeted by sophisticated commercial spyware, prompting an investigation by German authorities. The notices indicate potential compromise attempts, not confirmed infections.
Karsten Wildberger, Germany’s digital affairs minister, said the Apple alerts began reaching affected individuals on October 29. Officials do not yet know how many people may have been targeted or who may be responsible for the operation.
Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security, or BSI, has also contacted the affected people in writing to warn them of the risks. The case involves what is known as mercenary spyware: highly advanced commercial surveillance software designed to target selected individuals rather than being distributed broadly like conventional malware.
If a device is successfully compromised, this type of spyware can potentially access messages, including those sent through encrypted apps, as well as calls, contacts, calendars and location data. Attackers may also be able to activate a phone’s microphone or camera remotely without the owner’s knowledge.
Apple has said such targeted attacks can be difficult to detect and prevent because of their technical sophistication. German investigators have not established the origin of the suspected attacks or identified the actors involved.
