Kaspersky Finds Cybersecurity Threat That Targets iPhone s via Malicious iMessage Attachment h61c Technology News

The spyware extracts private information like microphone recordings, photos from instant messengers, geolocation, and other data. 324644

Written by Manas Mitul | Updated: 3 June 2023 15:17 IST

Kaspersky Finds Cybersecurity Threat That Targets iPhone s via Malicious iMessage Attachment

Photo Credit: Unsplash/ William Hook 4pp6o

Disabling the iMessage service would prevent iOS devices from the attack

Highlights

The malware installs on iPhones via a malicious iMessage attachment
Kaspersky calls the cyberattack “Operation Triangulation”
Threat doesn’t require the iPhone to do anything

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Prominent cybersecurity and anti-virus firm iMessage, which contains a malicious attachment. The threat doesn't require the iPhone to do anything and utilises iOS vulnerability to install a spyware that takes complete control of device and data.

According to a report about their findings published by Kaspersky, the malicious attachment sent via iMessage executes a code without the need for any action from the . The malicious code then runs a set of commands for collection of private data.

Kaspersky CEO Eugene Kaspersky tweeted about the iOS cyberattack, detailing that the spyware extracts private information like microphone recordings, photos from instant messengers, geolocation, and other data and transmits it to remote servers. The firm has dubbed the cyberattack threat as “Operation Triangulation.”

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We've discovered a new cyberattack against iOS called Triangulation.

The attack starts with iMessage with a malicious attachment, which, using a number of vulnerabilities in iOS installs spyware. No action is required.#IOSTriangulation pic.twitter.com/daxEYZwXwD
— Eugene Kaspersky (@e_kaspersky) June 1, 2023

Kaspersky said that the malware was found on the iPhones of dozens of employees and could target other iPhone s as well. He also added that the threat had been neutralised and details of the vulnerability have been sent to Apple. The CEO also noted that disabling the iMessage service would prevent vulnerable iOS devices from the attack.

The company said that after the malware is successfully installed on the device, the initial text and the accompanying exploit in the iMessage attachment are deleted. Kaspersky's report said the attack was ongoing, and iOS 15.7 was the most recent version among the devices that were successfully targeted. iPhone models running iOS 16 appear to be safe from the threat, but Kaspersky did mention in the comments section of its report that they could not guarantee that other iOS versions were safe.

iOS 16.3, iPadOS 16.3 Rolling Out With End-to-End iCloud Encryption, More

On Friday, Kaspersky also released tools for s to check if their device was infected.

Back in February, Apple released updates that fixed major vulnerabilities with iOS 16.3 and macOS 13.2 for ed iPhone, iPad and Mac models. At the time, Apple credited the researchers who found the flaws that allowed a remote to by protections put in place by Apple and gain access to a 's personal data as well as their camera, microphone, and call history.

Apple's annual developer conference is just around the corner. From the company's first mixed reality headset to new software updates, we discuss all the things we're looking forward to seeing at WWDC 2023 on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Further reading: iOS 16

Manas Mitul

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In his time as a journalist, Manas Mitul has written on a wide spectrum of beats including politics, culture and sports. He enjoys reading, walking around in museums and rewatching films. Talk to Manas about football and tennis, but maybe don’t bring up his video game backlog. More