Apple has sent messages to a Thai rapper and at least five other government critics warning that state-sponsored hackers could be accessing their data remotely, as well as accessing their iPhones’ camera and microphone.
Previously arrested for sedition but subsequently released, Dechathorn “Hockhacker” Bamrungmuang from the Rap Against Dictatorship group, expressed shock of a possible hack. He posted a screenshot of the message that read: “Apple believes you are being targeted by state-sponsored attackers who are trying to remotely compromise the iPhone associated with your Apple ID.”
On Tuesday, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, an Israeli company, for surveilling and targeting Apple users. Apple is also seeking a permanent injunction to ban NSO Group from using any Apple software, services or devices to safeguard the interests of its users.
After Dechathorn spoke out on this, two political activists in Ghana, an opposition politician in Uganda, and a dozen journalists from Salvadoran have stepped forward with similar warning messages from Apple.