Apple alerts Armenian iPhone users to suspected state-sponsored attacks

Certain iPhone users in Armenia have received notifications from Apple warning of potential state-sponsored cyberattacks. These alerts were sent on 30 October 2023, coinciding with similar notifications sent to several Indian politicians. While the alerts acknowledge the possibility of false alarms, they emphasize the suspicion that the users’ iPhones may have become targets.

According to local media outlet Media.am, the alerts indicate that the recipient’s iPhone may have been compromised by Pegasus spyware, likely deployed by the Israeli firm NSO Group on behalf of the Azerbaijani government. Apple’s notifications do not specify the identity of the potential hackers or mention the use of NSO Pegasus. Instead, they caution against state-sponsored hacking attempts and provide recommended steps for users to take.

Citing its independent research, Media.am alleges that the authorities in Azerbaijan have allegedly targeted approximately a thousand individuals within their borders using Pegasus. In Armenia, the number of potential targets is anticipated to be significantly higher, possibly in the thousands. However, obtaining an accurate estimate of the total number of individuals affected by Pegasus remains challenging. In an example notification shared by Media.am, the recipient is reminded that they have received a previous alert and underscores that this is a new instance of hacking or attempted hacking.

As previously reported, the Azerbaijani government has allegedly employed NSO Pegasus during its conflict with Armenia. The use of Pegasus by governments has become so prevalent that in 2021, Apple introduced its threat alert systems.