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Security researchers say they have identified an attack campaign targeting iPhone users using the DarkSword tool. In the past week, a new version of the tool was leaked and posted on a public GitHub code-sharing platform, raising concerns about how quickly it could be reused by other attackers.
Experts warn that the public disclosure could make it easier for hackers to exploit vulnerabilities on Apple devices that have not been updated to iOS 26. Apple data cited in the reporting suggests the issue could affect hundreds of millions of iPhones and iPads running older operating system versions.
Matthias Frielingsdorf, co-founder of security firm iVerify, said the tools are “too easy to repurpose” and could be rapidly exploited by cybercriminals at scale. He added that the leaked files consist only of simple HTML and JavaScript code, which he said can be deployed quickly without deep iOS expertise.
Google also confirmed the assessment, stating that leaked DarkSword variants could be easily used to mount attacks.
An independent researcher reported that they successfully breached an iPad mini running iOS 18 using DarkSword code circulating online.
Apple said it released an emergency update on March 11 for devices that cannot be upgraded to a newer iOS version. The company urged users to keep software up to date and said devices that are updated and have Lockdown Mode enabled would not be affected by these attacks.
Analysts say DarkSword malware can steal data from devices, including contacts, messages, call history, and stored information, and then send it to a server controlled by the attacker.
Experts note that DarkSword primarily targets devices running iOS 18 or lower. It is estimated that about a quarter of the more than 2.5 billion Apple devices in operation still use these versions, corresponding to hundreds of millions of users at risk.
The report also notes that an earlier iPhone attack tool named Coruna was discovered, underscoring a broader trend toward increasing mobile-targeted exploitation tools.
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