Apple issues iOS update to combat DarkSword spyware
Apple has issued a critical warning urging iPhone users to update their iOS operating system immediately following the discovery of advanced spyware called DarkSword, which can take full control of affected devices.
Cyber security researchers at Lookout, iVerify and Google have confirmed that DarkSword can steal sensitive data, including e-mails, usernames, passwords, photos and even information on cryptocurrency wallets, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of users.
Although the exact number of vulnerable iPhones remains unclear, experts estimate that between 220 and 270 million devices are still running older iOS versions (18.4 to 18.6.2), released between March and August 2025. Analysis shows that DarkSword has been deployed against specific targets such as Ukrainians under threat from Russian intelligence services, Chinese cryptocurrency users, and individuals in Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Malaysia.
This discovery follows an earlier disclosure on 3 March by Google and iVerify. In that announcement, another powerful iPhone spying tool, Coruna, was identified, which has been linked to both Russian intelligence groups and Chinese cybercriminals.
Researchers at Lookout describe DarkSword as “highly sophisticated” and “professionally engineered”. In response to these threats, Apple spokesperson Sarah O’Rourke stressed the importance of regular software updates. She stated that both DarkSword and Coruna only affect older iOS versions. Keeping your software up to date is, she said, crucial to keeping your device secure.
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