Researchers uncover iPhone spyware capable of penetrating millions of devices
BNN Bloomberg
A powerful software exploit capable of penetrating and stealing information from potentially hundreds of millions of Apple iPhones was planted on dozens of websites in Ukraine in recent weeks, researchers said on Wednesday.
The discovery marks the second time this month that researchers have found spyware targeting iPhones and other Apple devices. Together, the two hacking tools show that the market for sophisticated malware capable of stealing data and cryptocurrency wallet information is flourishing, researchers said.
Researchers with cyber firm Lookout, mobile security firm iVerify and Alphabet’s Google published co-ordinated analyzes of the malware they dubbed “Darksword.” On March 3, Google and iVerify revealed a separate powerful iPhone spyware called “Coruna.” Researchers found Darksword hosted on the same servers.
“There’s now a verified pipeline of recent exploits ... that have ended up in the hands of potentially criminal entities with a financial focus,” said Justin Albrecht, principal researcher with Lookout.
Google said its researchers observed multiple commercial vendors and suspected state-linked hackers using Darksword in distinct campaigns against targets in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia and Ukraine.
The campaigns in Malaysia and Turkey were associated with Turkish commercial surveillance vendor PARS Defense, Google said. PARS Defense did not respond to a request for comment.
