A viral social media video featuring a woman claiming to be a former Apple software engineer is gaining traction online! According to the woman, whenever Apple launches a new iPhone, they would push an update to other iPhones with Malware to slow them down.
This then pushes people to upgrade.
The woman, identified online as HoneyCoolCat, made the explosive allegation in a short video circulating widely on Instagram and other platforms.
“I used to be a software engineer at Apple, and with every new phone that was released, malware was installed on the older phones to make you have to update,” she said in the clip. “So your phone’s not just glitching, it’s doing that on purpose.”
The video, reposted by Instagram account @redglobal.ar, has rapidly spread online, fueling fresh criticism of large tech companies and reviving memories of Apple’s infamous 2017 “Batterygate” controversy.
At that time, Apple acknowledged that software updates intentionally reduced performance on some older iPhone models. The company argued the feature was designed to prevent unexpected shutdowns caused by aging lithium-ion batteries, not to force customers into buying newer devices.
The controversy ultimately led to lawsuits, regulatory scrutiny, and public backlash, with critics accusing Apple of practicing planned obsolescence, the strategy of designing products to become outdated or less functional over time.
Apple later apologized for the lack of transparency surrounding the battery throttling feature and offered discounted battery replacements for affected customers.
The latest viral allegation, however, goes much further by claiming “malware” was deliberately installed on older devices. As of now, no evidence has been publicly presented to support the accusation, and Apple has not publicly responded to the specific viral video.
Cybersecurity experts generally define malware as malicious software intentionally designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to systems. No verified investigations or court findings have established that Apple deployed malware onto customer iPhones.
Still, the video has resonated with many social media users who say they have long suspected older smartphones become slower shortly after new models are released.
The renewed discussion highlights broader concerns around consumer technology, software transparency, battery performance, and the lifecycle of modern electronic devices.
Critics of the tech industry argue that frequent software updates, increasing hardware demands, and non-removable batteries can create economic pressure on consumers to replace otherwise functional devices. Technology companies, meanwhile, often maintain that updates are necessary for security improvements, app compatibility, and device stability.
The viral clip also reflects growing distrust among some consumers toward major technology corporations, particularly regarding how software updates affect older hardware performance over time.
While the allegations remain unverified, the controversy has once again placed Apple at the center of conversations about corporate transparency, consumer rights, and the ethics of upgrade-driven technology markets.
