iPhone Security Faces a New Challenge From Advanced Predator Spyware
AppleFriday, 20 February 2026 at 02:07
It's always a cat-and-mouse game when it comes to malware and cybersecurity. Nowadays, a new chapter shows that the malware landscape is becoming increasingly serious. According to security researchers, there is a worrying update to the Predator spyware. A recent report says the software can now secretly use an iPhone’s camera or microphone without showing the usual privacy warning lights.
Predator Spyware Can Intercept Your Camera and Microphone Without Being Noticed
The findings, reported by ITHome and based on research from Jamf Threat Labs, suggest the spyware can turn off the green and orange dots that normally appear when the camera or mic is active. These dots were introduced by Apple in iOS 14 as a simple way for users to see if their device is recording. The green dot shows camera use, while the orange dot shows microphone activity. This was an interesting feature and until now has been a point of reliance for some users.
Researchers now say Predator can bypass this protection after gaining deep system access. Once inside at the kernel level, the spyware can record audio or video while making the phone look completely normal to the user.
The method is fairly stealthy. The malware injects malicious code into SpringBoard, which controls the iPhone interface and status indicators. When the iPhone camera or microphone turns on, the system should trigger the privacy light. Instead, the spyware intercepts that signal and silently blocks it, so the indicator never appears.
What makes this especially concerning is the lack of obvious warning signs. Infected devices may not overheat, slow down, or behave strangely. Apps still open normally, notifications still arrive, and battery life may not show major changes, even while recording could be happening in the background.
The Advanced Attack Might Not Aim at Regular iPhone Users
That said, this type of attack is not aimed at regular users. The report notes that it is a post-compromise technique, meaning attackers must first gain full system control through advanced exploits. In most cases, such spyware is used against high-value targets like journalists, officials, or executives, not everyday consumers.
Key Points
- New report warns that Predator spyware can secretly access iPhone cameras and microphones
- The malware can reportedly disable Apple’s green and orange privacy indicator lights
- Research cited by ITHomeand Jamf Threat Labs points to a stealth-focused upgrade
- The attack works after a deep system compromise with kernel-level access
- Infected iPhones may appear completely normal with no clear warning signs
- The threat is mainly aimed at high-value targets, not regular users
The update is worrying, but the report gives us some hope. After all, iOS developers can find ways to patch this malware on the iPhone and add some extra security layers to keep their devices secure. For now, there is still no report regarding the same flaw affecting Android devices. Obviously, iOS is known for being more secure, so seeing malware being able to bypass Apple's barriers is certainly worrying.
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