DarkSword malware alert, millions of iPhone users at risk of their data being stolen

Researchers have found a new spyware targeted at iPhones called DarkSword. DarkSword is said to be able to instantly hack vulnerable iPhones and steal user data, potentially putting hundreds of millions of devices at risk. Here are all the details.

A new spyware has been discovered, one that specifically targets iPhones. As per research reports, this new spyware, called DarkSword, can instantly hack and steal data from vulnerable devices, and is likely capable of penetrating millions of iPhones.

Cybersecurity firms Lookout and iVerify, along with Alphabet’s Google, jointly analysed the malware. Researchers across the three organisations have released notes on DarkSword.

Researchers estimate that between 220 million and 270 million iPhones may still be vulnerable to DarkSword due to running outdated iOS versions. Here is everything you need to know about this spyware.

According to researchers, DarkSword was found embedded across multiple legitimate Ukrainian websites. It exploits iPhones running iOS versions 18.4 to 18.6.2 with “elegant techniques never publicly seen before.”

Once a user visits the infected site, the spyware can instantly and silently hack their device. This allows the spyware to gather information such as Wi-Fi passwords, text messages, call history, root location history, browser history etc.

One of the impacted websites was said to have a “.gov.ua” address, indicating that the hackers were able to compromise Ukrainian government servers. And Ukrainian websites may not be the only ones compromised.