Apple patches exploit attributed to hacker-for-hire firm

Security researchers said an operating system vulnerability could allow hackers to directly infect Apple devices without any user action. Apple released an emergency software patch to fix a security vulnerability that researchers said could allow hackers to directly infect iPhones and other Apple devices without any user action. The researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab said the flaw allowed spyware from the world’s most infamous hacker-for-hire firm, NSO Group, to directly infect the iPhone of a Saudi activist. “And it’s why it’s so important that companies focus on making sure that they are as locked down as possible.” The researchers said it also exposes — again — that NSO’s business model involves selling spyware to governments that will abuse it, not just to law enforcement officials chasing cybercriminals and terrorists, as NSO claims.