Apple iPhone alert: Chidambaram says after Pegasus mystery, finger of suspicion points to a Govt. agency

After the Pegasus mystery, the finger of suspicion points to a government agency, P. Chidambaram said a day after several opposition leaders claimed they were alerted by Apple about a “state-sponsored” attack on their iPhones

After the Pegasus mystery, the finger of suspicion points to a government agency, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram said on November 1, a day after several opposition leaders claimed they were alerted by Apple about a "state-sponsored" attack on their iPhones.

At the moment, it is only a suspicion, Mr. Chidambaram said.

"It is undeniable that hundreds of Opposition leaders got an alert from Apple of a state-sponsored attempt to compromise their phones. Why only Opposition leaders? Who will be interested in compromising the phones of Opposition leaders," the former Union Home Minister said.

"After the Pegasus mystery [not resolved until this date], the finger of suspicion points to a government agency. At the moment it is only a suspicion," the Congress leader said.

Several opposition leaders on Tuesday claimed they received an alert from Apple warning them of "state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise" their iPhones and alleged hacking by the government, a charge rejected by IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The Minister assured a thorough probe into the matter.

Those who received such notifications include Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, party leaders Shashi Tharoor, Pawan Khera, K.C. Venugopal, Supriya Shrinate, T.S. Singh Deo and Bhupinder S Hooda; Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra; CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.