New iPhone hacking tool can be used with 'no iOS expertise'
Security experts are warning that a new hacking tool targeting iPhones can be used by attackers with "no iOS expertise required".
A new iPhone hacking tool can be used by attackers with "no iOS expertise required".
Someone online has leaked a new version of advanced hacking tool DarkSword, and researcher have insisted any hacker can easily use the tools to target people using older versions of Apple's operating system, which could include hundreds of millions of devices.
Speaking to TechCrunch, Matthias Frielingsdorf, co-founder of security startup iVerify, said: "This is bad. They are way too easy to repurpose.
"I don’t think that can be contained anymore. So we need to expect criminals and others to start deploying this.”
He added: "The exploits will work out of the box. There is no iOS expertise required.”
He said that the leaked files are simply HTML and JavaScript, which means anyone can copy and paste them and have them hosting on a serve "in a couple of minutes to hours".
Apple has reiterated its stance that the best protection for users is to update their software, with iOS 27 not at risk from the attacks.
Spokesperson Sarah O’Rourke added: "Keeping your software up to date is the single most important thing you can do to maintain the security of your Apple products."
Apple recently issued a rare public warning about the risk, along with an emergency update for devices which can't run more recent versions of iOS.
In a security document on Apple's website, they wrote: "Security researchers recently identified web-based attacks that target out-of-date versions of iOS through malicious web content.
"For example, if you’re using an older version of iOS and were to click a malicious link or visit a compromised website, the data on your iPhone might be at risk of being stolen.”
Phones running iOS 15 to iOS 26 are protected from the vulnerabilities.
Although the company will often release updates and patches for security reasons, they don't often issue public warnings like this.
They continued: "We thoroughly investigated these issues as they were found and released software updates as quickly as possible for the most recent operating system versions to address vulnerabilities and disrupt such attacks.
"If you have kept your iPhone software up to date, then you are already protected.
"Keeping your software up to date is the single most important thing you can do to maintain the security of your Apple products, and devices with updated software were not at risk from these reported attacks.
"Devices with Lockdown Mode enabled are also protected from these specific attacks, even on out-of-date software, but should be updated to the latest iOS version as soon as possible."
