Apple is updating its iOS software after internet security experts discovered that a prominent Arab activist's iPhone was being targeted.
Apple has updated its latest version of iOS after reports say spyware was targeting a prominent Arab activist's iPhone.
Oscar Gutiérrez/CNET
Reports published Thursday by the San Francisco-based internet security firm Lookout and internet watchdog group Citizen Lab detail how special spyware can take advantage of three previously unknown vulnerabilities in Apple's mobile software. The reports point to NSO Group, an Israeli company that sells software to invisibly track a mobile phone, as being responsible for the target.
Apple has responded by releasing an updated version of its mobile software, iOS 9.3.5. It will be available to users through a normal software update.
The tech giant said in a statement Thursday it fixed the vulnerability immediately after learning about it. "We advise all of our customers to always download the latest version of iOS to protect themselves against potential security exploits."
The target was discovered around August 10 after Ahmed Mansoor, a renown human rights activist in the United Arab Emirates, began receiving strange texts. If he had've clicked the link, it could have installed malware which has the ability to intercept calls, texts and email.