Apple has been sending warning messages to some iPhone users: Here’s why

iPhone

If you're an iPhone user and recently got a warning from Apple, you're not alone—and it’s something you should take seriously.

This week, Apple started sending security alerts to users in 100 countries, warning them about “mercenary spyware attacks”—a term that usually points to government-backed surveillance efforts. According to TechCrunch, at least an Italian journalist and a Dutch activist confirmed receiving these messages from Apple via iMessage and email.

The alert message is serious. It tells users that someone is likely trying to remotely hack their iPhone using advanced spyware, possibly because of who they are or what they do. Apple says it has high confidence in its detection, even though it admits no system is perfect in spotting every attack.

To protect themselves, Apple is advising those who received the alert to:

–Turn on Lockdown Mode (a special iPhone setting designed to protect against targeted attacks),

–Update to iOS 18.4.1, the latest version of the operating system,

–And avoid opening links or attachments from unknown sources.

Importantly, Apple will never ask users to click a link, install an app, or share account details in these warnings—so if you see any suspicious requests, it's best to ignore them.

Apple has been sending out these types of warnings since 2021, often related to the use of Pegasus spyware—a powerful surveillance tool created by the NSO Group. Apple even sued NSO that same year, accusing them of targeting Apple users around the world.

So far, people in more than 150 countries have received similar notifications.

While most users won’t be affected by such attacks, Apple’s warning serves as a reminder of how serious digital threats have become—especially for journalists, activists, and others who may be targets of state surveillance.