Apple Warns Iranians of Government iPhone Spyware Attacks

Apple has recently alerted over a dozen Iranian iPhone users, primarily activists and tech professionals, that their devices were targeted with sophisticated government spyware, according to reports from multiple cybersecurity experts and digital rights organizations. The Miian Group and security researcher Hamid Kashfi detailed three confirmed spyware attacks against Iranians, two inside Iran and one in Europe, with victims receiving notifications mostly in 2024 and 2025. The Iranian government is strongly suspected to be behind these attacks, which seem aimed at silencing political dissent and suppressing civil society, although definitive attribution requires further investigation. Victims often disengaged from forensic investigations due to the sensitivity of their situations and potential risks, highlighting the grave implications of state-level digital espionage. This development reflects a broader trend of geopolitical tensions spilling over into digital surveillance, with tech companies like Apple increasingly acting as protectors by notifying users about such threats. The warnings underscore the growing challenge to digital sovereignty and the critical role of private firms in defending user privacy against government surveillance.