Google, iVerify, and Lookout researchers discover DarkSword, a hacking tool used by Russia-sponsored and other hackers to target iOS 18 via Ukrainian websites
A powerful iPhone-hacking technique known as DarkSword has been discovered in use by Russian hackers.
Wired Andy Greenberg
Related Coverage
- Second iOS exploit kit emerges from suspected Russian hackers using possible U.S. government-developed tools CyberScoop · Tim Starks
- Inside DarkSword: New iOS Exploit Kit Delivered Via a Compromised Legitimate Ukrainian Government Site iVerify
- Russians caught stealing personal data from Ukrainians with new advanced iPhone hacking tools TechCrunch · Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai
- New “Darksword” iOS exploit used in infostealer attack on iPhones BleepingComputer · Bill Toulas
- Researchers uncover iPhone spyware capable of penetrating millions of devices Reuters · A.J. Vicens
- The Proliferation of DarkSword: iOS Exploit Chain Adopted by Multiple Threat Actors Google Cloud Blog
- Lookout Uncovers DarkSword iOS Exploit Chain, Exposing a New Era of Mobile Threats Business Wire
- Attackers Wielding DarkSword Threaten iOS Users Lookout
- Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild Hacker News
- New DarkSword iPhone hack ‘can steal everything’ just by visiting the wrong website Irish Independent · Adrian Weckler
- When I co-founded Mantis, one vision was investing in startups that address esoteric yet critical digital security problems. … Alex Pall
- PSA: Hackers can raid iOS 18 with an infected link The Verge · Emma Roth
- iVerify Details DarkSword, Second Mass Attack Against iOS Disclosed in Two Weeks iVerify
- Russia is using stolen U.S. made spyware to hack iPhones in Ukraine in a massive attack Neowin · Karthik Mudaliar
- New iOS exploit chain DarkSword discovered on government sites CyberInsider · Bill Mann
- Millions of iPhones vulnerable to new Darksword spyware attack The Independent · AJ Vicens
- This severe and international iPhone hack is the best reason to update to iOS 26.3 yet AppleInsider · Andrew Orr
- Researchers uncover iPhone spyware capable of penetrating millions of devices Reuters · AJ Vicens
- Why You Should Update Your iPhone Now to Avoid the New ‘DarkSword’ Exploit iPhone in Canada · John Quintet
- New iOS Exploit With Advanced iPhone Hacking Tools Attacking Users to Steal Personal Data Cyber Security News · Guru Baran
- Still On iOS 18.4 to 18.7? iPhone Hack Called ‘DarkSword’ Can Hit Your Device PCMag · Michael Kan
- Researchers uncover iPhone spyware capable of penetrating millions of devices MacDailyNews
- Russia-linked hackers use advanced iPhone exploit to target Ukrainians The Record · Daryna Antoniuk
- “Darksword” iOS 18 exploit allows hackers to covertly steal sensitive information from iPhones XDA Developers · Patrick O'Rourke
- New iPhone hacking tool puts hundreds of millions of devices at risk Cult of Mac · David Snow
- A new iPhone hacking tool puts anyone still on iOS 18 at risk Engadget · Ian Carlos Campbell
- More than 220 million iPhones under attack from new DarkSword exploit — how to stay safe Tom's Guide · Scott Younker
- Check out our research on DarkSword, yet another iOS exploit chain that has escaped the “lawful” realm of CSV activity and is being used by threat actors for both financial gain and espionage. … Justin Albrecht
- State snoops and spyware vendors planting info-stealing malware on iPhones, Google warns The Register · Jessica Lyons
- Researchers discover zero-day DarkSword exploit chain in iOS 18 SiliconANGLE · Maria Deutscher
- Hackers target millions of iPhones with new DarkSword spyware Mashable · Matt Binder
- Apple warns iPhone users to update software after hacking campaigns detailed by researchers NBC News · Kevin Collier
- iOS 18 exploit allows hackers to steal iPhone data MobileSyrup · Bradly Shankar
Discussion
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@agreenberg
Andy Greenberg
on bluesky
A second iOS exploit has been found in the wild, again used by Russian spies to infect websites and hack visitors' iPhones. This one works on iOS 18, and appeared in a very reusable form, so will likely proliferate. — If you haven't updated your iPhone, now's the time. www.wir…
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@agreenberg
Andy Greenberg
on bluesky
This tool has already been used in distinct hacking campaigns against Ukrainians, Malaysians, Saudi and Turkish victims. If other hackers needed any more encouragement to adopt it, too, the Russian spies who used it left it fully unobfuscated with even its developers' helpful co…
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@couts
Andrew Couts
on bluesky
NEW: iPhones running iOS 18—there are hundreds of millions of them—are potentially vulnerable to newly discovered hacking tools, capable of stealing troves of data, that were found in use in the wild. Update to iOS 26 now to patch. @agreenberg.bsky.social reports: www.wired.com/…
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@gregotto
Greg Otto
on bluesky
NEW: Joint research from Google, iVerify and Lookout uncovers “Darksword,” *another* suspected exploit kit built using high-end iOS exploits likely originally developed by/for the U.S. government. This is similar to Coruna, but has a much larger potential victim base cyberscoop.…
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r/cybersecurity
r
on reddit
Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild
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r/pwnhub
r
on reddit
Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild
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@krzywix
Mateusz Krzywicki
on x
In collaboration with Lookout and Google (thank you 🙏) we have been working on tearing down and building detections for DarkSword - iOS exploit chain for iOS 18.4 - 18.7. Super excited for this research 🎉. Please update your iPhones. https://iverify.io/...
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@onejailbreak_
@onejailbreak_
on x
🗞️DarkSword, a full-chain iOS exploit using 4 zero-days, has been used in real attacks across multiple countries🥷🚀 Targets iOS 18.4-18.7, while earlier Coruna chains hit iOS 13-17.2.1. https://onejailbreak.com/... This may be useful for a jailbreak, and more! — All via Safari [im…
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@_danielsinclair
Daniel Sinclair
on x
Interestingly, we haven't seen these surveillance payloads scoop up your interactions with AI apps. Some day soon, surely, as ChatGPT knows more about you than any contact on your device.
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@ryanaraine
Ryan Naraine
on x
Two full iOS exploit kits in one month, deployed via watering holes on public websites, potentially affecting hundreds of millions of devices. Will Apple acknowledge that this no longer fits the “very small number of highly targeted individuals” narrative? [image]
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@zeroxjf
Johnny
on x
Wild couple weeks for the iOS jailbreak community. 2 exploit chains in 2 weeks. ICYMI, there's a new iOS 18 chain (details below). Payloads don't appear to be in the wild, (good given how many are still on iOS 18), but likely means no imminent ability to adapt for a jailbreak.
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r/iPhone13Mini
r
on reddit
Critical iOS 18 vulnerability found
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@fmarini@mastodon.social
Francesco Marini
on mastodon
As usual, Wired is... not great 🙄 — Regarding DarkSword, the latest objectively bad exploit affecting iOS and Safari, Google has a more in depth analysis, with a lot more informations on the specific versions of iOS that are affected. …
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r/technology
r
on reddit
Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild | A powerful iPhone-hacking technique known as DarkSword has been discovered in use by Russian hackers. …