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France confirms new Apple spyware campaign alert

In a threat and incidents report released today, France’s Information Security Agency confirmed that Apple issued a new wave of threat notifications earlier this month. Here are the details.

The alert didn’t specify who was behind the recent campaign

According to the agency’s report, Apple sent its latest round of security alerts to French citizens on September 3, 2025, marking the fourth campaign just this year. Previous notification waves were sent on March 5, April 29, and June 25.

As the agency explains it (translation ours):

“Since 2021, Apple has been sending notification campaigns to individuals targeted by spyware attacks.

These tools, such as Pegasus, Predator, Graphite, or Triangulation, are particularly sophisticated and difficult to detect.

These complex attacks target individuals because of their status or role: journalists, lawyers, activists, politicians, senior officials, members of strategic sector management committees, etc.

Receiving a notification means that at least one of the devices linked to the iCloud account has been targeted and may potentially be compromised.”

The document goes on to explain that these alerts arrive via iMessage from verified Apple addresses and contacts, and ask users who have received the alert to:

  • Quickly contact CERT-FR (https://cert.ssi.gouv.fr/contact) to receive technical assistance;
  • Keep the notification email sent by Apple;
  • Avoid making changes to the device (resetting, deleting apps, updating, restarting, etc.). These actions may interfere with investigations.

It also runs down common security recommendations, such as not clicking on suspicious links, using strong and unique passwords, and turning on 2FA “whenever possible.”

There are currently no details about who was behind this specific spyware campaign or who was targeted, including users outside of France.

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Avatar for Marcus Mendes Marcus Mendes

Marcus Mendes is a Brazilian tech podcaster and journalist who has been closely following Apple since the mid-2000s.

He began covering Apple news in Brazilian media in 2012 and later broadened his focus to the wider tech industry, hosting a daily podcast for seven years.