# Record number of Apple users receive spyware alerts Tens of thousands across 110 countries targeted by state-sponsored spyware attacks. - **Source:** [TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com) - **Published:** 2026-08-17 - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/779b23a1-8742-4abd-aca7-2899a9658d79 ## Unprecedented warnings Apple's new notification wave on Friday alerted tens of thousands of users in 110 countries about 'state-sponsored spyware' threats. Digital rights group Access Now reported a 30-40% surge in help requests compared to normal levels. This marks the company's largest warning campaign to date. ## Ukrainian soldiers targeted A Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier initially mistook the alert for a scam before verifying it with Apple. The anonymous soldier stated, 'I didn't think I was important enough to be targeted.' Ukraine's CERT unit declined to comment on whether other military personnel received similar notifications. ## 15 years of concerning data The Citizen Lab's John Scott-Railton, drawing on 15 years of spyware research, emphasized these attacks are more prevalent than realized. 'For every public case, there's a massive unseen iceberg,' he noted, adding the geographical diversity is particularly alarming. ## New notification methods Starting this year, Apple implemented multi-channel alerts via iPhone lock screens, Settings app, Apple ID emails, and web logins. Access Now's Al-Maskati confirmed this approach increased awareness and made ignoring warnings more difficult for users. ## Industry alarms sound Cybersecurity firm iVerify confirmed a spike in Apple threat notifications. Experts highlight concerning trends of 'ordinary' users beyond journalists and activists being targeted. The scale suggests sophisticated spyware tools are becoming more widely available. ## Lockdown Mode protection Apple confirmed no Lockdown Mode-enabled devices have been hacked to date. Security professionals stress this feature significantly reduces attack surfaces on iPhones, iPads and Macs by restricting certain functionalities to maximize security. ## Threat spans 150+ countries Apple has sent spyware alerts to users in over 150 countries during the past three years. These 'mercenary spyware' tools typically access location data, messages and microphone feeds. The company issues these warnings in batches at irregular intervals. ## New era in cybersecurity Experts warn state-sponsored cyberattacks now extend beyond high-profile targets. Apple's record alerts signal a new digital security paradigm where basic protection measures become essential for all users, regardless of profile. ## Sources covering this story - https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/17/unprecedented-number-of-apple-users-received-recent-spyware-alert-say-investigators/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._