In a significant revelation, Kaspersky Lab, a cybersecurity firm based in Moscow, disclosed that numerous employee devices were compromised in a large-scale espionage operation. Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) claimed that sophisticated surveillance software had infected thousands of Apple devices, including those belonging to Russian subscribers, foreign diplomats in Russia, and individuals in former Soviet Union countries. The FSB alleged "close cooperation" between Apple and the US National Security Agency (NSA), although no evidence was provided to support this claim. Apple vehemently denied the allegations, stating they have never cooperated with any government to insert backdoors in their products. The NSA chose not to comment on the matter. Kaspersky Lab's CEO, Eugene Kaspersky, confirmed the compromise of dozens of employee phones and described the cyberattack as a targeted operation directed at high-ranking personnel. While Kaspersky Lab was affected, it believes it was not the primary target. The FSB revealed that the American hackers behind the campaign had also compromised devices belonging to diplomats from Israel, Syria, China, and NATO member nations. This revelation raises concerns about the security of US technology and the covert data collection methods employed by intelligence agencies.
Russian officials announced the discovery of an espionage plot, revealing that it was uncovered through a collaborative effort between officers from the Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Federal Guards Service (FSO). The FSO, a powerful agency responsible for the Kremlin's bodyguard and formerly known as the KGB's Ninth Directorate, joined forces with the FSB to expose the operation. Russia has been widely recognized for its sophisticated domestic surveillance infrastructure, which has led officials to question the security of US technology. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that all officials in the presidential administration were aware of the transparent nature of gadgets like iPhones. Earlier this year, the Kremlin reportedly instructed officials involved in preparations for the 2024 presidential election to refrain from using Apple iPhones due to concerns about potential vulnerabilities to Western intelligence agencies.
