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. It can take over devices running iOS 18 that simply visit infected websites.

The DarkSword technique was first discovered by researchers at Google's Project Zero team. According to WIRED ^[1], the technique uses a combination of zero-day exploits and social engineering to gain access to an iPhone's kernel.

The DarkSword technique is particularly concerning because it can be used to take over an iPhone without the user's knowledge or consent. This means that even if a user has taken steps to secure their device, such as installing security software or using a strong password, they may still be vulnerable to the DarkSword technique.

The DarkSword technique is not the first iPhone-hacking technique to be discovered in recent years. In 2022, a group of hackers discovered a vulnerability in the iPhone's Face ID system that allowed them to unlock the device without entering a passcode ^[2]. However, the DarkSword technique is more sophisticated and can be used to gain access to an iPhone's kernel, which gives the hacker complete control over the device.

The DarkSword technique is a reminder of the importance of keeping software up to date and using strong passwords. It is also a reminder of the need for greater security measures to be taken to protect against iPhone hacking.

Sources

[1] Hundreds of Millions of iPhones Can Be Hacked With a New Tool Found in the Wild