Bad news for Apple users: a major cybersecurity threat has surfaced after a powerful iPhone hacking tool, DarkSword, was leaked online, putting millions of devices at risk worldwide, according to TechCrunch. The spyware, recently published on GitHub, is reportedly easy to use and doesn’t require advanced technical skills, allowing even novice hackers to launch attacks.
Apple has acknowledged the issue and urged users to update their devices immediately. The company stated that its latest software versions are protected against this exploit and recommended enabling Lockdown Mode for additional security.
Researchers have warned that the leaked DarkSword spyware is simple to use and can be deployed within minutes. Once activated, it can extract a range of sensitive data from targeted devices including:
Can steal contacts, messages, call logs, and stored passwords.
Mainly targets iPhones and iPads running older Apple software, especially iOS 18.
Google experts confirm the exploit works effectively on outdated systems.
Users who haven’t installed recent updates are at higher risk.
A significant number of Apple devices continue to operate on outdated systems. With over 2.5 billion active devices worldwide, this situation could expose hundreds of millions to possible cyber threats.
Experts warn that the public launch of DarkSword might trigger an increase in hacking efforts in the upcoming weeks. They urge users to update their devices and be wary of any suspicious links or websites.