Apple had released an update to correct a defect that allowed the Pegasus scandal to infect iPhone and other iOS devices without users even clicking on a malicious message or link. “Attacks like this are highly complex, cost millions of dollars to develop, have a short shelf life, and target specific individuals,” the company told.

Pegasus is spyware that can install itself without the person even clicking a link or file. A media investigation reported in July that many governments used the Pegasus malware, created by NSO Group, to spy on activists, journalists and politicians.

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Users should get alerts on their iPhones urging them to update the phone’s iOS software. Citizen Lab said it was effective against Apple iOS, MacOS and WatchOS devices. It requested people to install security updates immediately. “We determined that the spyware company NSO Group remotely exploit and infect the latest Apple devices with the Pegasus spyware,” Citizen Lab wrote in a post.