Is your iPhone safe? Apple releases security update after Pegasus spyware installed

by Julia Shapero - 09/08/23 10:02 AM ET

FILE – An Apple logo adorns the facade of the downtown Brooklyn Apple store on March 14, 2020, in New York. Apple is near to becoming the first publicly traded company to close a trading day with a $3 trillion market value, marking another milestone for a technology juggernaut that has reshaped society with a line-up of products that churn out eye-popping profits. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Apple released a security update Thursday to a patch up a newly discovered vulnerability that was used to install Pegasus spyware on one of its devices.

The vulnerability was discovered by The Citizen Lab at The University of Torontoʼs Munk School while checking the device of an individual who works at a Washington, D.C.-based civil society organization, the group said in a news release.

The Citizen Lab warned that attackers can compromise iPhones running the most recent version of iOS without any interaction from the phone’s owner and urged everyone to immediately install the update.

“We commend Apple for their rapid investigative response and patch cycle, and we acknowledge the victim and their organization for their collaboration and assistance,” the group said in the news release.

“This latest find shows once again that civil society is targeted by highly sophisticated exploits and mercenary spyware,” it added.

The Pegasus spyware, which was developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, has been used by foreign governments to surveil activists, dissidents, journalists and others.

Tags Apple Apple NSO Group Pegasus spyware Pegasus spyware Spyware