The German government has issued a warning to several lawmakers and public figures that their iPhones may have been compromised by spyware, following alerts from Apple about potential targeted cyberattacks. The country’s federal cybersecurity agency, the BSI, confirmed that members of the Bundestag and other prominent individuals received these notifications. While government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius emphasized the seriousness with which Berlin is treating the matter, details about which specific officials were affected, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have not been disclosed.

Apple periodically sends security notifications to users if it detects attempts to exploit vulnerabilities on their devices, often involving zero-click spyware. This form of malware allows attackers to gain control of the phone without requiring any user interaction like opening a link. Although Apple does not explicitly identify perpetrators or confirm infections, the BSI advises recipients of such alerts to assume their device may indeed be compromised, underscoring the significant threat these spyware attacks pose.

The recent alerts have not been limited to German officials. Beirut-based filmmaker Radwan Mortada shared on social media that he too received a new warning from Apple after a previous spyware attack on his device back in 2021. Apple’s most recent set of threat notifications reportedly affected users in 99 countries, highlighting a broad and ongoing campaign that remains unattributed to any specific state actor or hacking group.

This incident sheds light on the increasing use of government-associated spyware sold by private vendors, known as “mercenary spyware,” like the notorious Pegasus tool developed by Israel’s NSO Group. Germany's own federal law enforcement agency, the BKA, has reportedly purchased access to Pegasus in the past. Such spyware can steal sensitive data, including messages and location information, raising serious questions about privacy and the security of civil society members globally.