Apple previously sent similar notices to targets and victims of the spyware, directing them to contact a nonprofit organization that investigates such cyberattacks.

As of April 30, two people have revealed that they received a notification from Apple, one of them is Ciro Pellergrino – an Italian journalist working for the news site Fanpage. According to the message from the iPhone manufacturer, Pellergrino is not the only target of the spyware.

“Today’s announcement was sent to affected users in 100 countries,” the message read. “This is no joke,” Pellegrino said.

Some iPhone users are being targeted or victims of spyware

The second person to reveal her identity was Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a right-wing activist from the Netherlands. A screenshot posted by Vlaardingerbroek on social network X read: “Apple has detected a spyware attack on your iPhone. This attack is likely targeting you because of who you are or what you do… Please take it seriously.”

It's unclear what Apple's notice is referring to. Last year, users in dozens of countries were also notified about spyware from the iPhone maker.

Pellegrino is the second Italian journalist to receive a warning this year, according to TechCrunch . In February 2025, WhatsApp notified his Facebook colleague Francesco Cancellato that the company had blocked the activities of a spyware company that they believed had hacked his device.

In Cancellato’s case, WhatsApp said the spyware was made by Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company. After Cancellato revealed the incident, two other Italians came forward to say they had also been targeted by Paragon.