{
  "id": 12975020,
  "title": "Researchers uncover new DarkSword spyware variant affecting unpatched iPhones",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/researchers-uncover-new-darksword-spyware-variant-affecting-unpatched",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-08T23:08:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/08/researchers-uncover-new-darksword-spyware-variant-affecting-unpatched-iphones/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "iVerify has uncovered a new variant of DarkSword spyware, dubbed P7 DarkSword, which targets unpatched iPhones. This variant, discovered recently while investigating an infection on a customer's iPhone, expands compatibility to iOS 18.7, surpassing the previous variant's support for iOS 18.6. P7 DarkSword employs stealthier operations, reducing its on-device footprint and improving stability, while also enhancing its data-stealing capabilities. Notably, P7 can directly extract Keychain data and target crypto-wallet information from iPhones, whereas the earlier variant copied the entire Keychain database. Additionally, P7 introduces more advanced two-way communication with the attackers' command-and-control infrastructure, providing greater control over compromised devices. This spyware is distributed through malicious ads in watering-hole attacks, affecting users who encounter compromised web content.",
  "summary": "iVerify released a report today detailing P7 DarkSword, a new variant of the malware associated with the DarkSword iPhone exploit chain uncovered earlier this year. Here are the details. more…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}