Google discovers iPhone hacking websites targeting Google Play and Windows devices

According to Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG), a group of hacked iPhones attacked websites, now it has been reported that those websites also attacked Google’s Android OS and Microsoft Windows devices as well. This attack is said to be a part of the campaign to spy on the Uighur ethnic group in China, states Forbes.

The report added that the attack was updated over time for extracting information from devices running different operating systems. This was said to be done as the tech usage of the Uighur community changed. It remains a question if Google already knew about it from the beginning or not. All three tech giants - Apple, Google and Microsoft have not yet commented on this matter.

It has not been mentioned what exactly were the exploits were with Android and Windows devices though. Citing a ‘source’ the report adds that Google researchers told about malicious websites to Apple back in February before revealing the issue late last month. However, they have not yet revealed which Uighur-interest websites were used to affect the iPhones.

It has been mentioned that in the case of iOS, the malicious websites placed malware on the iPhones that could extract a lot of private data from encrypted WhatsApp messages, iMessage and Telegram texts. It could also take information on the user’s live location.