Apple Sends Fresh Wave of Spyware Notifications to French Users

Apple has, this year, sent at least four rounds of notifications to French users potentially targeted by commercial spyware, with September marking the latest wave. According to CERT-FR, the French national Computer Emergency Response Team, the alert records all waves known to CERT-FR since 5 March 2025, and the list is not exhaustive. The iPhone maker has been issuing these notices since 2021, and this latest round follows campaigns in March, April, and June, before the September notices.

The notifications are delivered to only a small number of users whose identities or activities drew suspicion, and Apple notes that mercenary spyware attacks are highly sophisticated and costly, often costing millions of dollars. CERT-FR explains that receiving a notification means at least one device linked to the iCloud account may have been targeted and could be compromised, and it recommends preserving forensic evidence and seeking technical assistance if one receives a notice. The report also comes as Apple highlighted memory protection features in its new iPhone models designed to help guard against such spyware.