Apple and Google Warn of State-Backed Cyberattacks Targeting Users in 150+ Countries

Apple and Google have issued global alerts about a new wave of cyberattacks carried out by hackers allegedly working for national governments, Orda.kz reports, citing Reuters.

Apple notified users in more than 150 countries that they may have been targeted by “state-sponsored attackers,” though the company did not disclose details of the intrusion attempts or the number of affected accounts.

Google said it is warning all users it has identified as targets of clients of Intellexa — a surveillance-for-hire company under U.S. sanctions — dating back to 2023:

This effort encompasses several hundred accounts across various countries, including Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Angola, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, and Tajikistan, ensuring that individuals at risk are made aware of these sophisticated threats.

The company added the associated domains to its Safe Browsing blacklist and urged users to install security updates immediately.

Citizen Lab researcher John Scott-Railton noted that such notifications often trigger investigations that can lead to accountability for misuse of spyware.

Kazakhstan has faced a surge in cyber threats. As previously reported, the hacker group Hive0117 targeted dozens of companies in Kazakhstan and Russia using malware disguised as notices from the Russian bailiff Service.

In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Kazakhstan recorded 965 million cyberattacks — including thousands aimed at critical infrastructure. 

Deputy Yerlan Sairov said many such attacks are likely state-sponsored, and the new international cybersecurity center under development will help countries share threat assessments and coordinate responses.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov