Apple threat notifications and spyware: what everyone should know(www.accessnow.org)

25 pointsby ricobecks3 hours ago3 comments

john_strinlai2 hours ago
>Again, if you have received an authentic Apple threat notification or similar alert from WhatsApp, Facebook, or Google, [...]
does google (or whatsapp/facebook) actually have similar alerts to apple's threat alerts?
the linked page for google is the typical "sign in from suspicious location" and "unusual number of emails sent", which is significantly different from what apple does when it thinks it detects a nation-state actor using sophisticated and targeted spyware.
- freehorse2 hours ago
  For whatsapp they do, and they had done so in recent spyware attacks based on 0-days
  > If we believe that your device has come under threat, we may notify you about it directly via a WhatsApp chat. The chat will include a system message at the top of the chat that verifies that this is the official account of WhatsApp Support, and there will be a blue checkmark next to WhatsApp Support at the top of the chat. You may also contact us in-app by clicking here.
  https://faq.whatsapp.com/641700318302674/
- winstonwinstonan hour ago
  Google has been sending some similar alerts long before Apple, those read something like "Government-backed attackers may be trying to steal your password".
VCFundedGenYer20 minutes ago
> Since 2001, Apple has been warning its users when they may have been targeted by spyware, using email, iMessage, and banners in their accounts.
LLM slop misunderstanding the situation. Highly doubt iMessage existed in 2001.
- FabHK12 minutes ago
  Indeed.
  > Since 2021, we have sent Apple threat notifications multiple times a year as we have detected these attacks,
  https://support.apple.com/en-us/102174
  (And iMessage was launched 2011.)
tyrabound31 minutes ago
It sure is an odd coincidence that all of the commercial surveillance software related to this matter are Israeli companies or have strong plumes of smoke coming from Israel and used a Czech pensioner as their director on Macedonian corporate filings, totally unbeknownst to her.