Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), through the Egyptian Computer Emergency Readiness Center (EG-CERT), has issued a public warning following alerts from Google and Apple about sophisticated smartphone hacking attempts targeting users in more than 150 countries, including Egypt. Early findings suggest the attacks exploit previously unknown security vulnerabilities and rely on malicious links and messages that appear to originate from trusted sources.
NTRA urged citizens to take immediate steps to secure their devices, emphasizing that keeping smartphones and applications updated is the first and most critical line of defense. Software updates often include security patches designed to close vulnerabilities that attackers seek to exploit, and users are encouraged to enable automatic updates wherever possible.
The authority also advised activating advanced security features available on modern devices, such as Lockdown Mode on iPhones and enhanced protection settings on Android phones. These measures can significantly reduce exposure to spyware and advanced cyber threats.
Users were further cautioned to remain vigilant when opening links, messages, or attachments from unknown or suspicious sources, even if they appear to come from reputable organizations. Additional protective steps recommended by NTRA include using secure browsers, enabling ad blockers to avoid malicious advertisements, and activating two-factor authentication for critical accounts such as email and social media to prevent unauthorized access.
