TechCrunch Industry News A major hacking tool has leaked online, putting millions of iPhones at risk. Here’s what you need to know
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Mar 27, 2026 A leaked hacking toolkit puts millions of iPhones and iPads at risk. The conversation breaks down two advanced toolkits, Karuna and Darksword, and which iOS versions they target. Listeners hear how the leak enables easy drive-by infections and where attacks have been observed globally. Practical mitigation steps like updating iOS and using Lockdown Mode are highlighted.
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Two Powerful iPhone Exploit Toolkits
- Karuna and Darksword are advanced iPhone/iPad exploit toolkits that steal messages, browser data, location history, and crypto.
- Karuna targets iOS 13–17.2 while Darksword contains exploits for newer builds up to iOS 18.7, per Google researchers.
Leaked Darksword Makes Attacks Trivial
- Part of Darksword was leaked to GitHub, making the exploits downloadable and usable by anyone.
- Researchers found Darksword web-based attack pages written in HTML/JavaScript, making it plug-and-play for attackers.
Government Tools Leaked Into Criminal Hands
- Karuna included exploits developed by Trenchant, an L3Harris offensive cyber unit, which later appeared in foreign hands.
- The toolkit's journey mirrors past leaks like the NSA exploit that fueled WannaCry.