Apple race to beat spy hack threat to iPhones

APPLE has rushed out a security update for iPhones after experts discovered a new insidious way hackers could crack them.

The flaw was uncovered after the phone of a Saudi activist was analysed. It is believed to be among tens of thousands infected by Pegasus – a highly sophisticated spyware devised by an Israeli surveillance firm.

Once installed it can be used to read someone’s messages, look at their photos, track their movements and even turn on their camera – all without the victim knowing.

The hack – in which users aren’t required to click on anything to become infected – was discovered by the University of Toronto and is believed to be the world’s first ‘zero click hack’. Most spyware generally requires the target to click on a booby-trapped link or file.

Apple’s iPhones, Mac computers and Apple Watches all got the update. Apple’s head of security engineering, Ivan Krstic, said the vulnerability was ‘not a threat’ to the vast majority.

Last night the firm also announced its new phone – the iPhone 13 – with the top-end model starting at £795.