Germany's BSI warns politicians of possible iPhone spyware attack

Germany's Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) has warned members of the Bundestag and the federal government about a possible spyware attack on their mobile phones. The warning relates to a threat notification issued by Apple for iPhones, according to information from ARD's Berlin capital studio.

Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger (CDU) confirmed the matter in the ARD report. He said there was "a message from Apple that certain devices may have been compromised with so-called spyware." According to Wildberger, the BSI reacted "super fast" and wrote to everyone affected, explaining what to do in this case. He gave no further details and said any talk about the specific nature of the incident was "purely speculative" and that people had to wait and see.

Wildberger also said he would not necessarily attribute the incident to an AI-driven attack, since spyware on phones has existed for some time. "It is nevertheless something that of course worries us a great deal," he said.

What spyware does

Spyware is malicious software installed on computers or smartphones without the user's knowledge or consent in order to collect data and pass it on to third parties. That can include keystrokes, messages, photos, location data, calls and microphone recordings.

Such programs usually reach a device through manipulated email attachments, fake links or apps from dubious sources. In some cases they exploit security flaws in outdated software. Besides criminals and stalkers, states also use spyware.

Why it matters

For politicians and officials, a compromised phone can expose sensitive communication. The case shows that Apple's threat notifications, which alert users to suspected targeted attacks, are being taken seriously by German authorities. Who is behind the suspected attack and how many devices are affected has not been made public. The minister said it remains to be seen what exactly is behind the notification.