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Apple is urging users to update their iPhones after the discovery of new spyware that can take over phones running older versions of the iOS operating system.
A powerful software exploit could steal information from hundreds of millions of users, say cybersecurity researchers at Lookout, iVerify and Alphabet’s. Google.
It is not clear how many there are iPhones vulnerable to spyware known as Darksword, a type of malware designed to stealthily steal information from mobile devices.
This affects users running older versions of the iOS operating system, released between March and August 2025 (versions 18.4 to 18.6.2).
An estimated 220 to 270 million iPhones are still running on older versions of iOS, according to researchers.
Analysis from the three companies shows iPhone hacking tools have focused on several groups: Ukrainians targeted by Russian intelligence; Chinese cryptocurrency users; and people in Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Malaysia.
On March 3, Google and iVerify revealed details of a separate powerful iPhone spyware tool called Coruna, which has been linked to Russian intelligence groups and Chinese cybercriminals.
Darksword was discovered on the same server allegedly used by Russian Coruna operators.
Researchers say the two hacking tools demonstrate a rapidly growing malware market. Darksword can steal data, including emails, usernames, passwords, photos, and even cryptocurrency wallets.
Lookout describes it as “highly sophisticated” malware, which “appears to be a professionally designed platform.”
A Apple Her spokesperson, Sarah O’Rourke, said both tools only work on devices running older versions of Apple’s operating system, reinforcing the need for people to apply updates regularly.
“Keeping software up to date remains the single most important thing users can do to maintain high security on their Apple devices,” he said.
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John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity lab sponsored by the University of Toronto, told NBC News: “The barrier to entry for widespread and devastating mobile attacks has been lowered significantly… it’s clear that this problem will continue to grow.”
“The scary thing for regular users is that they can’t detect these attacks,” he added.
Apple’s latest operating system, iOS 26, was released in September and protects users from both hacking campaigns, according to the company.
Last week, Apple took the unusual step of releasing an update specifically for iPhone users with older devices that couldn’t handle a full upgrade to iOS 26, specifically to block hackers from using hacking tools.
