In a coordinated push to counter rising digital espionage, Apple and Google have separately alerted users this week about sophisticated hacking attempts believed to be backed by governments. The warnings underscore how commercial spyware has become a central weapon in international surveillance operations.
The latest wave of alerts comes as security researchers track a surge in targeted intrusions aimed at activists, diplomats, journalists, and political figures worldwide.
Apple confirmed that its most recent warnings were issued on 2 December as part of an ongoing programme designed to inform individuals when their personal devices may have been singled out by elite hacking teams. The company offered no figures on how many users were notified this time, but acknowledged that people in over 150 countries have now received similar alerts since the initiative began.
Google, meanwhile, disclosed on 3 December that it had reached out to hundreds of account holders who were targeted using spyware built by Intellexa, an industry network accused of delivering surveillance tools to government agencies. Alerts were sent across diverse regions including Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Intellexa has been sanctioned by the United States, yet the group’s software continues to surface in active cyber operations, according to Google’s threat analysts. Requests for comment to individuals tied to the consortium went unanswered.
