Apple has issued a new round of threat notifications to selected iPhone users in 99 countries, warning that they have been targeted by sophisticated mercenary spyware attacks. Security researcher Costin Raiu reported the new wave on October 30, 2026, stating it was separate from the August alerts and linked to new attacks.
"Today’s notification is being sent to targeted users in 99 countries, and to date we have notified users in over 150 countries in total," Apple said in the notice shared by Raiu. Apple's notifications indicate targeting with high confidence, but they don't automatically confirm that every device was successfully compromised. These attacks can cost millions of dollars and often target journalists, activists, politicians, and diplomats due to their work or public roles.
Their investigations utilize internal threat intelligence, and they keep detection details confidential to thwart attackers from exploiting vulnerabilities. Designating Pegasus or another commercial surveillance tool as responsible would likely exceed the available evidence. As previously reported, recipients should view these alerts as serious security incidents and seek expert assistance rather than dismiss them as routine notifications.
Its documentation explains that the feature limits message attachments, some web technologies, incoming FaceTime calls, and profile installation, reducing functions that attackers could exploit.
For everyone else, current software, strong account protection, and cautious handling of unknown links remain crucial.
