California (Web Desk): American technology company Apple has warned iPhone users in 99 countries around the world that their devices may have been targeted through sophisticated spyware, with victims including German lawmakers and government officials.
According to reports by technology websites TechCrunch and The Record, Apple began sending fresh warnings to users on October 29. The company has not yet disclosed the identity of those involved in the attacks, nor has it confirmed how many devices were successfully hacked.
Details about the warnings issued to users in 99 countries emerged through a notification received by Lebanese filmmaker and journalist Ridwan Murtada.
Meanwhile, Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has confirmed that members of parliament and other prominent individuals also received security alerts from Apple.
The German agency has advised affected individuals to take the possibility of their mobile phones and other devices being compromised seriously and to adopt precautionary measures.
Following this development, concern has spread among iPhone users worldwide, while the threat of cyberattacks involving sophisticated spyware has once again become a focus of global attention.