Close-up of a large number of broken cellphones, including cracked cellphone screens with exposed wiring. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Google Project Zero analyst Ian Beer spent six months working on an exploit that allows him to get complete control of nearby iPhones. (Screenshot / YouTube)
Researcher Ian Beer earned high praise for his persistence in working out the attack, which involves an iPhone feature called Apple Wireless Direct Link.
Citizen Lab says the spyware campaign involved attackers who posed as journalists, Amnesty International researchers, nongovernmental organization workers through May 2019.