Apple and Google Send Notifications About Cyber Threats to Users in Over 150 Countries

SadaNews - Apple and Google announced that they have sent a new set of notifications this week regarding cyber threats to users worldwide, announcing their latest efforts to protect customers from surveillance and espionage threats.

Apple and Google, owned by Alphabet, are among a limited number of technology companies that regularly issue warnings to users when they find that they may be targeted by government-backed hackers.

Apple stated that the warnings were issued on December 2nd, but provided few details related to the alleged hacking activity and did not respond to questions about the number of targeted users or identify the entity believed to be conducting the cyber intrusions.

Apple added, "We have notified users in over 150 countries so far."

This statement from Apple comes after Google announced on December 3rd that it warns all known users of being targeted using the spyware Intelllexa, which it said has affected "several hundred accounts in various countries, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Angola, Egypt, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan."

Google stated in its announcement that Intelllexa, an intelligence company under U.S. sanctions, "evades restrictions and succeeds."

Executives affiliated with Intelllexa have not yet responded to messages.

The waves of warnings have dominated news headlines and prompted government bodies, including the European Union, to conduct investigations, as senior officials within it have previously been targeted using spyware.