The leading maker of spyware offered somewhat different explanations about wanting to see Apple’s lawsuit disappear.

It’s another swipe at the Intellexa Consortium, a sprawling network of companies.

The tech giant hopes to make its messaging platform secure against highly capable quantum computers of the future. 

The patch is the latest to address issues associated with what cybersecurity firm Kaspersky called Operation Triangulation.

The fix follows allegations from a Russian intelligence service that an intentional flaw in iPhones provided a gateway for American espionage.

A Russian intelligence agency said thousands of iPhones were infected in an operation that shows "cooperation" between Apple and the NSA.

Privacy groups said the encryption features — which require users to opt in — are welcome but long overdue.

Facebook identified 400 apps across the Google Play and Apple App store that posed as harmless lifestyle and business services to dupe users.

An Apple representative said that the company has alerted potential victims of highly targeted mercenary spyware in 150 countries.

The company said it is in the process of bringing systems back online.