Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (NASDAQ:GOOG) has identified a cybersecurity threat affecting older versions of Apple Inc.‘s (NASDAQ:AAPL) smartphone operating system iOS, which could have possibly emerged from the U.S. government.
Google Identifies Coruna
In an official research note published by the software giant on Tuesday, the Google Threat Intelligence Group shared that it had identified “Coruna,” which is a hacking tool targeting iPhone models running iOS version 13.0 (2019) up to version 17.2.1 (2023).
The group says it first identified the exploit kit in a surveillance vendor’s attempt to hack into someone’s phone. The group said it observed the same kit used during attacks targeting Ukrainian users conducted by suspected Russian actors, as well as Chinese financially motivated hackers.
GITG said it remained unclear as to how the hackers got hold of the kit, but suggests there exists an “active market for “second hand” zero-day exploits,” adding that the kit wasn’t effective on the latest iOS versions. “iPhone users are strongly urged to update their devices to the latest version of iOS,” the group said.
iVerify Suggests US Origins
Mobile security website iVerify, in a blog post, also shared that it had identified the exploit kit on Tuesday. “This is the first observed mass exploitation of mobile phones, including iOS, by a criminal group using tools likely built by a nation-state,” the post said.
The website said that it had “evidence” to suggest that the tool was “a leaked U.S. government framework,” citing similarities of the kit with EternalBlue, a kit targeting Microsoft Corp‘s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Windows computer operating system, which was reportedly developed by the National Security Agency (NSA).
Department of War Vs Anthropic
The news comes as cybersecurity has taken center stage with President Donald Trump directing all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI technology, decrying harsh restrictions on what he termed as lawful military applications. Anthropic has been blacklisted by the government.
Meanwhile, the Department of War, led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, reached an agreement with Sam Altman-led OpenAI to deploy its AI tools inside the Pentagon’s classified system, agreeing to OpenAI’s terms, which outlined prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and a requirement for human oversight over the use of force.
Elsewhere, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei defended the AI startup. Amodei emphasized the company’s patriotic stance and that it was the first AI company to assist the defense community in a classified capacity.
Benzinga Edge Rankings show that Alphabet scores well on the Momentum metric and offers a favorable price trend in the Long Term.
Price Action: GOOGL slipped 0.41% to $302.32 during Pre-market trading on Wednesday.
Image via Shutterstock
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