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The Coruna and DarkSword Threat For years, the prevailing narrative among iPhone security experts was that breaking through Apple's defenses was a rare, high-barrier event requiring significant resources. However, recent investigations by Google, iVerify, and Lookout have shattered this assumption. Researchers have documented broad-scale hacking campaigns utilizing two specific tools, Coruna and DarkSword, which have been used to target victims globally who are not running the latest software updates. Attack Vectors: Hackers are compromising legitimate websites and creating fake pages to deliver spyware. Key Actors: Involvement of Russian spies and Chinese cybercriminals. Tool Availability: The source code for these tools has leaked online, allowing anyone to launch attacks against older iPhones. The Two-Tier iPhone Security Landscape The discovery of Coruna and DarkSword highlights a critical data point in the current security ecosystem: the existence of two distinct classes of iPhone users. This bifurcation is driven by the introduction of Memory Integrity Enforcement in iOS 26, a feature designed to prevent memory corruption bugs—the very vulnerabilities exploited by DarkSword. Class A (Secure): Users on the latest iPhone 17 models running iOS 26 are protected by memory-safe code and Lockdown Mode, making them resistant to these specific memory-based hacks. Class B (Vulnerable): Users running iOS 18 or older versions remain exposed to memory corruption attacks, as these older systems lack the new safety enforcement layers. Challenging the 'Rare Hack' Myth The widespread use of these leaked tools suggests that spyware attacks are becoming more common and less exclusive. This shift is fueled by a thriving "second-hand" market for exploits, where brokers resell vulnerabilities before they are patched. Experts argue that the rarity of iPhone hacks has been overstated simply because they are rarely documented. As noted by Patrick Wardle, the baseline capability for such attacks is now accessible to a wider range of actors, moving beyond state-sponsored actors to include cybercriminals. The End of the 'Rare Hack' Era The future of mobile security appears to be one of continuous escalation. With the code for Coruna and DarkSword now public, the barrier to entry for launching attacks against older devices has lowered significantly. This indicates that memory-based exploits will continue to plague lagging users, and the market for exploit development will likely expand as brokers seek to monetize vulnerabilities before updates are applied.

A high-stakes diplomatic effort is underway as a delegation of Russian officials has arrived in the United States for meetings with their American counterparts. This visit, which began on Thursday, marks a significant development in the strained relations between Moscow and Washington, particularly over Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed optimism about the talks, stating, 'We hope that these first tentative steps will, of course, make their contribution to the further revival of our bilateral engagement.' President Vladimir Putin has set the main directives for the trip and will be thoroughly briefed on the meeting.The visit occurs against the backdrop of US-brokered talks to end the war in Ukraine, which are currently in a state of limbo. Despite several rounds of negotiations since US President Joe Biden's administration took office, a deadlock persists, with the Kremlin ruling out compromises to halt its military campaign.Russia, a key ally of Iran, has been accused by Western intelligence officials of supporting the Iranian government as it faces a war launched by the US and Israel. A recent report alleged that Russia was close to completing a shipment of drones to Iran, which Moscow has vehemently denied, calling such claims 'lies being spread by the media.'In a related development, Russia has intensified its military actions in Ukraine, carrying out one of the largest aerial attacks since the start of the war, launching 948 drones in 24 hours. This escalation has prompted Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to appeal for air defence munitions from allies, warning of a potential deficit in missiles while Washington focuses on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

The Dual Threat: Coruna and DarkSwordSecurity researchers have identified two distinct but equally dangerous hacking toolkits, Coruna and DarkSword, that have leaked onto the open web. These advanced exploit kits, capable of breaking into iPhones and iPads, were originally developed for high-level government surveillance but are now available for anyone to download.Coruna: Targets iOS 13 through 17.2.1. Linked to Trenchant, a unit within U.S. defense contractor L3Harris, and previously used in Operation Triangulation against Russian targets.DarkSword: Targets iOS 18.4 and 18.7. Leaked on GitHub, making it "plug-and-play" for cybercriminals.The Scale of VulnerabilityThe scale of this exposure is staggering. According to Apple's statistics, nearly one-in-three iPhone and iPad users are still not running the latest software. With over 2.5 billion active devices globally, this implies hundreds of millions of users are susceptible to these attacks.DarkSword is particularly concerning because it targets newer devices running iOS 18.4 and 18.7. Researchers have already tested the leaked code, successfully hacking their own devices to demonstrate the ease of use.From State-Sponsored Espionage to Public ExploitationThis leak marks a dangerous shift in the cybersecurity landscape. Historically, sophisticated tools like Coruna were the domain of state-sponsored actors targeting specific regions, such as the Uyghurs in China or activists in Hong Kong.However, the release of DarkSword represents a move toward indiscriminate cybercrime. The tool is written in web languages like HTML and JavaScript, allowing attackers to launch attacks simply by hosting a malicious website. Victims in China, Malaysia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine have already been targeted.The Future of Zero-Day WeaponizationThe leak of these tools mirrors the infamous 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, which was fueled by leaked NSA exploits. Once powerful zero-day vulnerabilities are released into the wild, they are nearly impossible to fully contain.Experts recommend immediate action: users must update to iOS 18.7.6 or iOS 26.3.1. For high-risk individuals, enabling Lockdown Mode remains the most effective defense, as there is currently no public evidence of hackers bypassing its protections.

The recent surge in attacks in the Middle East has sparked fears of an impending energy crisis in Asia, a region that heavily relies on oil imports from the volatile region. The escalating tensions have led to concerns about the security of oil supplies, which could have far-reaching implications for the Asian economy.Asia's dependence on Middle Eastern oil has long been a concern, with many countries in the region relying heavily on imports to meet their energy needs. Any disruption to these supplies could have significant impacts on the region's economic growth and stability.The situation is being closely monitored by energy experts and policymakers, who are warning of the potential risks of an energy crisis in the region. The global economy is also likely to be affected, as any disruption to oil supplies could lead to higher prices and reduced economic growth.

Oil prices have climbed higher amid fading hopes of deescalation in the Iran war following Tehran’s denial that talks with the United States are under way.Futures for Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose nearly 2 percent on Thursday to top $104 per barrel after Tehran dismissed reports of direct negotiations with US President Donald Trump’s administration.The rise comes after oil prices eased on Wednesday following reports that Trump had shared a 15-point plan for ending the war with Iran.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with state media aired on Wednesday that Tehran was not engaged in direct talks with Washington and has “no intention of negotiating for now”.White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt warned on Wednesday that Iran would be “hit harder” than ever before if Tehran did not accept military defeat.Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for one-fifth of global oil supplies, and its attacks on energy facilities across the Middle East have prompted a surge in energy prices worldwide.Oil prices are up more than 40 percent compared with before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting numerous countries to implement fuel rationing and other energy conservation measures.Market-watchers say prices are likely to rise further until shipping is free to traverse the strait, despite efforts by countries to bolster supply by tapping emergency stockpiles in coordination with the International Energy Agency.While Tehran has repeatedly claimed that the strait is open to ships that are not aligned with its enemies, daily transits have all but collapsed since the start of the conflict.Four vessels were tracked transiting the waterway via their automatic identification systems on Tuesday, down from an average of 120 daily transits before the conflict, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward.

The recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East has sent shockwaves across South Asia, affecting millions of families who depend on remittances from their loved ones working in the Gulf nations. The war between the US and Israel on Iran has resulted in a significant increase in tensions, with Iranian attacks on Gulf neighbours causing widespread fear and uncertainty.For Jaya Khuntia, a father from India's Odisha state, the conflict has brought unimaginable tragedy. His 25-year-old son, Kuna, a pipe fitter in Qatar's capital Doha, died of a heart attack after hearing the sound of missiles and debris from interceptions falling near their residence. Kuna's death has left the family in debt and despair, with their hopes of paying off a 300,000-rupee ($3200) loan for the marriages of their two daughters shattered.Migrant workers from South Asia, totaling nearly 21 million people in the Gulf nations, are often engaged in blue-collar work, building or supporting the industries and services that drive the Gulf's success and prosperity. However, they are also among the most vulnerable, with many working in areas targeted by Iranian attacks, such as oil refineries, construction areas, airports, and docks.The suspension of work at many of these facilities, coupled with fears of a major economic downturn in the region, has left many workers and their families worried about the future of their jobs. Experts warn that remittances from the Middle East, a crucial economic backbone for South Asian nations, could be significantly affected, especially if Gulf economies contract and layoffs follow.For Hamza, a Pakistani migrant laborer working at an oil storage facility in the UAE, the conflict has brought a sense of fear and uncertainty. He witnessed a drone attack on a storage unit and was shaken by the experience. Despite the dangers, he said leaving is not an option, as his family depends on him.Imran Khan, a faculty member at the New Delhi Institute of Management, said migrant laborers from South Asia are often driven by desperation to take up jobs in the Middle East. He warned that these workers are the worst affected during crises, whether war or natural disasters.As the conflict continues, many South Asian workers are planning to return home. Noor, a migrant worker from Bangladesh employed at an oil facility in Saudi Arabia, said he no longer feels safe and plans to return home once his contract ends. His family, too, is deeply affected, with his children crying every time they call him, scared for his life.

Following Donald Trump's recent claims that the US is engaged in 'strong talks' to end the war with Iran, Qatar took the unusual step of publicly distancing itself from any alleged diplomatic negotiations. The Gulf state's government spokesperson Majed al-Ansari explicitly stated, 'Qatar was not involved in any mediation efforts,' adding pointedly, 'If they exist.'This represents a significant departure from Qatar's traditional role as a chief mediator in Middle East conflicts, having previously facilitated negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the US and the Taliban, and peace deals in Lebanon and Sudan.Over the past three weeks, Gulf states have found themselves on the frontlines of the conflict after their mediation efforts to prevent war were ultimately rejected by the US. The pattern of broken negotiations is particularly telling: the US attacked Iran twice during talks aimed at halting the Iranian nuclear program, which were championed by Oman. Discussions last June were halted as the US and Israel conducted strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, and revived talks in February were similarly undermined when Trump began bombing Tehran before the final round of meetings.Since the war began, Gulf states have been forced to spend billions defending against daily Iranian missile and drone attacks, with their economies and sovereignty suffering substantial damage. Analysts suggest their reluctance to engage with the alleged ceasefire efforts reflects both the heavy toll of continued warfare and lingering suspicion about whether Trump's peace initiatives are genuine or merely a pretext for further escalation.As Bilal Saab, senior managing director of advisory group Trends US and former Pentagon official in the first Trump administration, explained: 'They've been burned by their previous experience. They previously thought they played a useful mediating role – until they realised that it was all for naught. Not to mention that they have been directly implicated in the war and are still being attacked by the Iranians. So there's a lot of pent-up frustration and disappointment.'By Wednesday night, the Iranian regime had outright rejected Trump's 15-point plan to end the war, submitted to Tehran via Pakistani generals, as 'extremely unreasonable' and presented their own substantially different proposal.The concern among Gulf states is that any negotiations could become a front for military escalation or even the assassination of additional Iranian leaders. This anxiety is compounded by the simultaneous deployment of thousands of US troops to the region and the persistent fear of being used as pawns in the US and Israel's Middle East strategy.Professor Bader al-Saif of Kuwait University noted: 'Whenever the word negotiation was used by the Trump administration, we unfortunately ended up under the rubric of war.' He emphasized that while Gulf states are reluctant to engage with what they perceive as a potential Trumpian charade, they recognize the critical importance of shaping any realistic peace negotiations that could affect their future.The existential threat to Gulf economic ambitions is particularly concerning. The prospect of Trump ending the war with the current Iranian regime still in place—potentially more vengeful than before and acutely aware of the damage its missiles can inflict on multi-billion-dollar infrastructure—poses significant risks. Additionally, there remains no clear solution to Iran's effective control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which most of the region's oil and gas exports flow.Analysts suggest that beyond relying on US-led negotiations, Gulf states should pursue their own separate dialogue with Iran. As al-Saif stated: 'They shouldn't only count on the US to do the negotiation. They should go and strike a deal with Iran for themselves. This was not our war, and if we can shield ourselves from being impacted any further, we should do it to protect our own national interests.'

Castleford Tigers produced a stunning performance to defeat Bradford Bulls in a highly entertaining Super League match. The Tigers' attack clicked into gear, with Jason Qareqare scoring a hat-trick and leading his team's charge to a convincing victory.The match was a West Yorkshire derby that lived up to expectations, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance. However, it was Castleford who ultimately dominated the game, scoring 28 unanswered points in a 10-minute period either side of half-time to transform a nervy contest into a decisive win.Ryan Carr's Castleford side had been under pressure after a heavy defeat last week, but they responded with a confident display. Carr praised his team's performance, saying, “How we played tonight is how we want to play our rugby.”In contrast, Bradford Bulls' coach Kurt Haggerty was left to ponder what might have been, saying, “You shouldn’t score 28 points in a game and lose.” The Bulls' defensive frailties were exposed, and they will need to address these issues if they are to exceed expectations in 2026.The win for Castleford was a significant one, as it moved them up the table and gave them a much-needed boost in confidence. For Bradford, the loss was a disappointing one, but they will look to bounce back in their next match.

Israel stands as the sole nation where overwhelming public support exists for the conflict with Iran, despite the profound impact on daily life. At least 15 people have been killed and hundreds injured by Iranian missiles since the war began in February, with school closures and missile warnings becoming routine. Polling indicates that more than 90% of Jewish Israelis back the war, a figure that sharply contrasts with international sentiment.The global perspective reveals a dramatically different picture. Nearly a month into the fighting, polling shows that 60% of the US public opposes the war with Iran, and just one in four Americans backed the initial strikes. In the Gulf, Europe and Asia, the conflict is widely unpopular as severe economic consequences begin to manifest.According to Emma Graham-Harrison, The Guardian's chief Middle East correspondent based in Jerusalem, many Jewish Israelis view themselves as under siege in a hostile world since the October 2023 massacre. This perception has led many to conclude that an aggressive security policy is the only way to ensure safety, regardless of international reaction.There's a prevailing sentiment in Israel that short-term suffering will lead to long-term security, despite security experts questioning whether Israel has a clear strategy to convert tactical achievements into lasting security. Life in Jerusalem remains restricted, with many working from home and limitations on businesses from cafes to gyms.The public support for the war has not translated into improved political fortunes for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who currently lags in polls for the upcoming general elections. While there is majority support for Netanyahu's decision to launch the war and his handling of it, even among those who don't want to give him another term, his coalition faces challenges in securing enough seats to return him to power.Some Israeli supporters of the war worry that Netanyahu's push to attack Iran has jeopardized the country's crucial relationship with the United States. Historically, Israel's foreign policy has been based on bipartisan ties, but Netanyahu has effectively abandoned that approach to cultivate an extremely close relationship with Trump.Israel's isolation is becoming increasingly apparent as the conflict continues. Unlike historical precedents where Israel achieved security through negotiated agreements with Jordan and Egypt, the current approach emphasizes military power above diplomatic solutions. This isolation is reflected in the fact that Israel may be the only place in the world with broad support for this war, with populations in Lebanon and Iran experiencing the conflict as horrific.