Apple Warns Ugandan Journalist Canary Mugume of Government-Linked Spyware Attack
Apple Warns Ugandan Journalist Canary Mugume of Government-Linked Spyware Attack
A journalist affiliated with Next Media Canary Mugume has received a security threat notification from Apple, warning of a mercenary spyware attack targeting their iPhone. The alert, reportedly similar to one he received during Uganda’s previous electoral cycle in 2021, has sparked concerns over digital surveillance and press freedom in the country.
In a post shared on social media platform X, the journalist wrote:
“Apple sent this notification to me indicating that I am being targeted by a mercenary spyware. Most of these are used by Governments, to hack into phones of journalists, high profile figures and activists. They last sent this in 2021, there's a pattern - electoral season.”
The screenshot attached to the post displays an official Apple Security Alert stating the company has high confidence that the journalist is being targeted by a mercenary spyware campaign, often backed by state-level actors. These types of spyware such as the infamous Pegasus software developed by Israeli firm NSO Group are capable of secretly extracting messages, calls, and even activating microphones and cameras without the user’s knowledge.
Apple’s threat notifications are extremely rare and are typically only issued when the company has credible intelligence pointing to sophisticated attempts to compromise the device of someone at risk.