The Russian Federal Security Service reported today, Thursday, that it uncovered a conspiracy by the U.S. National Security Agency using previously unknown malware to exploit specifically manufactured vulnerabilities in Apple phones.
The Federal Security Service of Russia stated that several thousand Apple phones were infected with this malware, including phones belonging to subscribers within Russia.
It indicated that the targeting included the phones of foreign diplomats based in Russia and countries that were part of the former Soviet Union, including current NATO member states, as well as Israel, Syria, and China.
The Russian security agency stated in a press release: "The Federal Security Service of Russia has revealed that prominent U.S. security agencies conducted espionage operations using Apple phones," pointing out that the conspiracy demonstrated the close relationship between Apple and the U.S. National Security Agency.
It added: "Apple provides U.S. intelligence agencies with a wide range of opportunities to monitor anyone of interest to the White House and its partners in anti-Russia activities and to surveil their citizens."
Unusually, the Federal Security Service of Russia disclosed that the Federal Guard Service, the agency responsible for securing Russian leaders, helped uncover this conspiracy.
