German lawmakers targeted by suspected spyware attacks on iPhones
Germany’s federal cybersecurity agency has confirmed that members of the Bundestag have received warnings from Apple regarding potential spyware targeting their devices.
The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has issued an advisory to members of the Bundestag and other prominent figures following reports of potential spyware activity. The warnings stem from threat notifications sent by Apple to users who the company suspects have been targeted by state-backed cyberattacks.
Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius confirmed that authorities are treating the situation as a serious matter, though the identities of those targeted remain undisclosed. Apple’s notifications are designed to alert high-risk users to sophisticated surveillance efforts that often employ 'zero-click' exploits.
Zero-click vulnerabilities allow attackers to compromise a device without any user interaction, such as clicking a link. While Apple does not publicly attribute these attacks to specific governments or confirm a successful breach, the BSI has advised affected individuals to take immediate precautions to secure their hardware and sensitive data.