Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has warned members of the Bundestag and government officials about a possible spyware attack targeting their mobile phones, according to the ARD Hauptstadtstudio. The warning concerns an Apple threat notification for iPhones.
Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger said Apple had reported that certain devices may have been compromised with spyware. He added that the BSI had reacted quickly and contacted everyone affected with instructions on what to do. Wildberger did not provide further details and said it was too early to determine the specific nature of the incident.
The minister also rejected speculation that the warning necessarily pointed to an artificial-intelligence-based attack. Spyware has existed on phones for a long time, he said, while acknowledging that the situation was a cause for concern.
Spyware is malicious software installed on computers or smartphones without the user’s knowledge or consent. It can collect information such as keystrokes, messages, photos, location data, calls and microphone recordings, then transmit that data to third parties.
Such programs can reach devices through manipulated email attachments, fraudulent links or apps from untrustworthy sources. Some spyware also exploits security vulnerabilities in outdated software. Its users can include criminals, stalkers and state actors.
Sources: t3n.