The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), represented by the National Computer and Network Emergency Readiness Center (EG-CERT), issued a statement to alert the public regarding what Google and Apple have announced: advanced hacking attempts targeting smartphone users in more than 150 countries worldwide, including the Arab Republic of Egypt. Preliminary reports indicate that these attempts exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities and involve sending malicious links and messages that may appear to come from trusted sources.

The NTRA urges citizens to secure their mobile phones, as keeping the phone and apps updated is the first line of defense against any hacking attempts. Each new update typically includes fixes for vulnerabilities that attackers may exploit. Therefore, it is recommended to enable automatic updates whenever possible. The authority also advises users to activate advanced security settings available on their devices, such as Lockdown Mode on iPhones and advanced protection options on Android devices, which help increase security and reduce the risk of spyware targeting the phone.

The NTRA emphasizes caution when dealing with links, messages, or attachments, especially those from unknown or unusual sources, even if they appear to be from well-known companies or organizations. Many attacks rely on deceiving users into clicking harmful links. To further enhance protection, users are advised to use secure browsers and ad-blocking tools, which can help prevent exposure to malicious ads containing harmful codes. It is also recommended to enable additional verification (two-factor authentication) when logging into important accounts, such as email or social media accounts, to ensure that no one can access them even if the password is compromised.