NEW DELHI – Tech giants Apple and Google have issued a new series of cyber-threat notifications to users around the world, warning that sophisticated surveillance attempts may be targeting devices across dozens of countries. The alerts mark the latest effort by the companies to counter state-backed hacking and the growing trade in advanced spyware.
Apple and Alphabet-owned Google are among a handful of technology firms that routinely notify users when they detect credible evidence that government-supported or organized hacking groups may be attempting to compromise their devices.
Apple Issues Dec. 2 Warning, Notifications Now Span Over 150 Countries
Apple confirmed that on December 2, it issued another round of threat notifications to users facing potential high-risk cyber intrusions. The company did not disclose how many users were targeted or identify the groups believed to be behind the attacks.
According to Apple, “to date, we have notified users in over 150 countries in total,” underscoring the increasingly global reach of advanced digital surveillance tools. Apple typically sends these alerts only when it has reliable indicators of targeted, high-level intrusion attempts often associated with state-linked actors.
Cybersecurity analysts note that such attacks are not conventional cybercrime but fall into a category where sophisticated exploits, zero-day vulnerabilities, and industrial-grade spyware are deployed to infiltrate devices silently.
Google Flags Intellexa Spyware Targeting ‘Several Hundred Accounts’
A day after Apple’s announcement, Google said on December 3 that it has begun notifying users targeted through Intellexa, a spyware suite associated with multiple international surveillance operations.
Google’s Threat Analysis Group reported that the campaign had affected several hundred accounts spread across regions including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Angola, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Tajikistan.
The company noted that Intellexa — already sanctioned by the U.S. government — continues to “evade restrictions and operate actively,” despite global scrutiny. Google said it is closely tracking the spyware ecosystem and has deployed patches to block the use of zero-day exploits leveraged in the attacks.
Executives linked to Intellexa did not respond to requests for comment.
Alerts Likely to Trigger New Government Inquiries
Previous waves of Apple and Google threat notifications have led to inquiries by regulators and national cyber agencies. The European Union, which has faced multiple incidents involving high-ranking officials being targeted with spyware, has been particularly active in seeking accountability for such surveillance campaigns.
John Scott-Railton, senior researcher at the Canadian cybersecurity watchdog Citizen Lab, said threat alerts from major companies impose significant costs on spyware operators.
“Warning victims not only disrupts the attackers’ operations but is often the first step toward investigations, disclosures, and genuine accountability for abuses involving commercial spyware,” he said.
Why Spyware Alerts Are Rising Worldwide
Cybersecurity researchers say that the surge in alerts reflects a broader spike in politically and strategically motivated cyber operations. Mobile phones have become prime targets for surveillance actors seeking access to sensitive communications, personal information, diplomatic correspondence, and real-time location data.
Advanced spyware tools allow operators to extract messages, call logs, passwords, and even activate microphones or cameras — often without any visible trace to the user. Global demand for such tools has grown among state and non-state actors alike, creating an expanding underground marketplace.
Apple and Google advise users who receive threat notifications to immediately update their devices, change passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and exercise caution regarding unknown links or attachments.
A Debate on Privacy, Oversight, and National Security
The new round of alerts has reignited debate over the balance between surveillance, privacy rights, and national security. As the commercial spyware industry grows, regulators and human rights organizations are pressing for stronger global controls and greater transparency in the sale and use of surveillance tools.
Analysts warn that without international regulation and coordinated oversight, the proliferation of advanced spyware poses risks not only to individuals but also to diplomatic institutions, journalists, activists, and even government officials.
The latest alerts from Apple and Google indicate that the struggle to contain the misuse of surveillance technologies is likely to intensify in the coming years.
