Just after some INDIA bloc leaders shared alerts from Apple warning them of "state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise" their iPhones, the tech giant stated that some alarms could be false.
This comes as opposition leaders, including Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Pawan Khera, shared screenshots on social media, showing messages from Apple warning them of "state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise" their phones. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also claimed that people in his office have been sent a similar warning by Apple.
The message shared by the MPs stated, "ALERT: State-sponsored attackers may be targeting your iPhone".
"Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID. These attackers are likely targeting you individually because of who you are or what you do. If your device is compromised by a state-sponsored attacker, they may be able to remotely access your sensitive data, communications, or even the camera and microphone. While it's possible this is a false alarm, please take this warning seriously," it stated.
Received from an Apple ID, threat-notifications@apple.com, which I have verified. Authenticity confirmed. Glad to keep underemployed officials busy at the expenses of taxpayers like me! Nothing more important to do?@PMOIndia @INCIndia @kharge @RahulGandhi pic.twitter.com/5zyuoFmaIa
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 31, 2023
The opposition leaders hit out the government immediately with Rahul Gandhi joining the group. He alleged that as soon as the Adani issue is touched, probe agencies and snooping are deployed. Gandhi showed a copy of the warning e-mail received by several opposition leaders from Apple phone manufacturer about "state-sponsored attackers trying to compromise" their phone.
"We are not scared. You can do as much (phone) tapping as you want, I don't care. If you want to take my phone, I will give it to you..," he said. "The hierarchy in the country is No. 1 Adani, no. 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi and no. 3 Amit Shah," he alleged.
However, Apple soon issued a clarification which read that the company "does not attribute the threat notifications to any specific state-sponsored attacker".
Apple also explained that state-sponsored attackers tend to be "very well-funded and sophisticated, and their attacks evolve over time.
"Detecting such attacks relies on threat intelligence signals that are often imperfect and incomplete. It's possible that some Apple threat notifications may be false alarms, or that some attacks are not detected. We are unable to provide information about what causes us to issue threat notifications, as that may help state-sponsored attackers adapt their behaviour to evade detection in the future," the statement said.
The BJP had reacted to the issue, stating that it was up to Apple to clarify. Amit Malviya said in a post on X, "Usual suspects raising a storm over state sponsored' attack and pretending to be martyrs is all good But this hullabaloo, in all probability, like in the past, will end up as damp squib!
"Why not wait for Apple to clarify? Or is it too much to let go an opportunity to outrage?"
