Dangerous Virus Attacks iPhone Users: Here Is How to Stop It

Malicious malware attacks have been reported targeting iPhone users across various parts of the world. The malware is reportedly capable of stealing information from hundreds of millions of devices.

Cybersecurity firm Lookout, mobile security company iVerify, and Google have published analyses regarding a malware named Darksword. Additionally, Google and iVerify have revealed the existence of another spyware dubbed Coruna.

“There is now a newly verified exploit path that has fallen into the hands of potentially criminal entities with a focus on security,” said Justin Albrecht, lead researcher at Lookout, as quoted by Reuters.

Google stated that Darksword targets Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia, and Ukraine. Specifically, for Malaysia and Turkey, the attacks are linked to the Turkish commercial surveillance vendor, PARS Defense. The company has not responded to requests for comment.

Researchers from iVerify and Lookout discovered that the malware affects iPhones running iOS versions 18.4 through 18.6.2. Victims of the attack were found to have visited one of dozens of Ukrainian websites.

While the exact number of iPhones vulnerable to the attack remains unknown, users are urged to update their devices to stop the threat. Currently, many users have yet to adopt the latest iOS; iVerify and Lookout estimate that between 220 million and 270 million iPhones are still running the vulnerable software.

An Apple spokesperson stated that the exploitation relates to outdated software and that the vulnerability can be addressed through updates.

“Updating software remains the most important action users can take to maintain high security on Apple devices,” said the Apple spokesperson.