Apple has issued a new round of alerts to users it believes have been individually targeted by mercenary spyware, according to Citizen Lab researcher John Scott-Railton. The warnings matter because such tools, including Pegasus, are commonly linked to state-backed surveillance of journalists, activists, politicians and diplomats, and are difficult to detect or stop.

Apple says its alerts are high-confidence assessments, though it cannot guarantee absolute certainty or disclose its detection methods without helping attackers evade them. Receiving an alert does not necessarily mean data has been compromised, but indicates activity consistent with a targeted attack; Apple recommends enabling Lockdown Mode and seeking specialist help, including Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline.