US Sanctions Greek Spyware Company, Executives
Information Week
MARCH 6, 2024
Calling the action the “first of its kind,” the US said the spyware company’s software was used against government officials and other US interests.
Reckless abuse of surveillance spyware sold to governments (again)
Network World
JUNE 19, 2017
The latest example comes from Mexico, showing how powerful spyware was used to target journalists investigating high-level official corruption and human rights defenders investigating government-sponsored human rights abuses. Why target a kid? To spy on his mother.
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Appeals court rules Americans have no legal recourse if hacked by foreign governments
Network World
MARCH 15, 2017
Put aside the matter of Russian interference in our presidential election to instead consider this scenario: If Vladimir Putin ordered his government-employed hackers to plant spyware on your personal computer – stealing all your data and even recording your Skype calls – you would have no access to any legal remedy in the U.S.
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Spyware scandal rocks Polish government
The Verge
DECEMBER 27, 2021
Several members of political opposition groups in Poland have produced evidence that they were hacked by Pegasus spyware, raising alarming questions about the Polish government’s use of the software. In both cases, traces of Pegasus spyware were found on the targets’ devices. a threat to “the rules-based international order”.
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Apple patches iOS security flaws found in spyware targeting activist
Network World
AUGUST 25, 2016
To spy on a human rights activist, hackers allegedly connected to a Middle Eastern government used three previously unknown vulnerabilities in Apple’s iOS. The claims -- from research at Toronto-based Citizen Lab and mobile security firm Lookout -- focus on spyware that targeted Ahmed Mansoor, an activist in the United Arab Emirates.
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Security researchers detail Hermit spyware on Android and iOS
TechSpot
JUNE 27, 2022
A report from Google's Threat Analysis Team describes how Italian company RCS Labs distributes its Hermit spyware on behalf of clients which include national governments. It aligns with Lookout Threat Lab's report from earlier this month.
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Apple Calls Out 'Mercenary Spyware' Vendors Enabling State Surveillance
SecureWorld News
APRIL 15, 2024
Apple has escalated its fight against the commercial spyware industry enabling state actors to conduct highly-targeted cyberattacks against journalists, activists, politicians, and other high-risk individuals around the world. These types of attacks have victims in every country in the world." Just last month, the U.S.
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Unknown Government Using Advanced Hacking Spyware to Attack Russia and Saudi Arabia
Data Center Knowledge
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
Data collection and spying continues to make news with a never before seen complex surveillance software called Regin.
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CISA Issues Alert to Secure iPhones Against Pegasus Spyware Zero-Days
SecureWorld News
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
Alarming details have emerged about the exploitation of two Zero-Day vulnerabilities to deploy NSO Group's Pegasus commercial spyware on iPhones. CISA's actions reflect the critical need for government agencies to secure their devices promptly, given the potential implications of a successful compromise.
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Microsoft and Google join Facebook’s legal fight against infamous spyware vendor
The Verge
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Facebook-owned WhatsApp sued the spyware vendor last year, alleging that its software was used to hack 1,400 devices via a vulnerability in the messaging service. In response to Facebook’s lawsuit last year, NSO Group has argued it should benefit from “sovereign immunity,” Reuters reports , because it sells its tools to foreign governments.
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A New-ish Mobile Attack: Zero-Click Spyware
SecureWorld News
OCTOBER 24, 2022
Bloomberg is reporting that in July 2020, an Azerbaijani journalist was the victim of a zero-click attack, commonly used by governments to target political opponents. The app then connected to a malicious server and downloaded spyware to the phone, listening in on calls and viewing text messages for nearly a year and a half.
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Serbian police allegedly use NoviSpy spyware to monitor journalists
Dataconomy
DECEMBER 16, 2024
Serbian police reportedly deployed a new spyware, NoviSpy, to monitor journalists and activists, according to a report by Amnesty International. The findings point to a larger trend where physical access to devices enables the installation of spyware. Evidence suggests its development dates back to at least 2018.
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Pegasus Spyware Discovered on Spanish PM's Phone
SecureWorld News
MAY 3, 2022
The highly controversial Pegasus spyware has been found on the mobile phones of Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez, as well as the defense minister Margarita Robles, according to the Spanish government. Spain is now investigating the phones of other members of the government to find out if anyone else has been targeted with Pegasus.
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Senior EU Officials Targeted with NSO Spyware
SecureWorld News
APRIL 12, 2022
The Israeli-based company—known for its Pegasus spyware that has been used to target journalists, politicians, and executives all over the world—was blacklisted by the United States government in November 2021. in terms of spyware and is evaluating vendors like NSO. Who was targeted with NSO software in the EU?
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US Adds Spyware Vendors to Entity List for Cyber Exploits Trafficking
SecureWorld News
JULY 20, 2023
The Commerce Department recently added four spyware vendors to its Entity List for their involvement in trafficking cyber exploits used to gain unauthorized access to information systems. This move targets the activities of spyware vendors that pose a serious threat to the privacy and security of individuals and organizations worldwide.
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Dozens of Al Jazeera journalists targeted in apparent iOS spyware attack
The Verge
DECEMBER 21, 2020
36 personal phones belonging to Al Jazeera journalists, producers, anchors, and executives were hacked in a spyware campaign between July and August 2020, a new report from Citizen Lab alleges. Citizen Lab says it has “medium confidence” that one is working on behalf of the UAE government and another for the Saudi government.
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Pegasus Spyware Used to Target 30 Pro-Democracy Activists in Thailand
SecureWorld News
JULY 18, 2022
The controversial Pegasus spyware continues to stay in the news cycle, as a new report from the Citizen Lab details how the technology was used to target pro-democracy activists in Thailand. The current Thai government was not exactly thrilled by this and responded with a wave of arrests and increased surveillance dramatically.
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Apple Unveils 'Lockdown Mode' to Defend Against Spyware
SecureWorld News
JULY 8, 2022
Lockdown Mode is designed to protect users who could be targeted by "the most sophisticated digital threats," such as spyware developed by private companies like the highly controversial NSO Group. The spyware was found on the phone of Jamal Khashoggi's wife just days after his murder. Department of State.
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NSO’s Pegasus spyware: here’s what we know
The Verge
JULY 23, 2021
Throughout the past week, we’ve seen story after story about a company called NSO Group, and a piece of spyware called Pegasus. Amnesty International ran detailed forensics on 67 smartphones to look for evidence that they were targeted by Pegasus spyware — and 37 of those phones tested positive. Wait, who made this list?
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Amazon Web Services bans accounts linked with Pegasus spyware
The Verge
JULY 19, 2021
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has banned NSO Group, the company behind the Pegasus spyware program. But yesterday’s reporting — comprising work from Amnesty International, Forbidden Stories, and 17 news outlets — says governments deployed it indiscriminately against political figures, dissidents, and journalists.
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US State Department phones were reportedly hacked by NSO spyware
The Verge
DECEMBER 3, 2021
At least nine employees of the US State Department working in or with Uganda had their iPhones hacked with spyware made by NSO Group, according to a report from Reuters. While it’s unclear who carried out the attacks, NSO Group says it only sells its software to government organizations that have gotten approval from the Israeli government.
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Pegasus spyware group blacklisted by the US government
The Verge
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
The US Department of Commerce has ordered American companies to not sell their tech to NSO, citing reports that the group’s Pegasus spyware is used against journalists, government officials, activists, and more. NSO isn’t the only company being added to the entity list on Thursday.
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Government Employees at High Risk for Mobile Phishing
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
New research from Lookout reveals the most common mobile threats aimed at federal, state, and local government agencies and their employees—all of which have increased since 2021. One in eight government employees were exposed to phishing threats. Federal workers have more restrictions on BYOD devices.
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Here’s how to check your phone for Pegasus spyware using Amnesty’s tool
The Verge
JULY 21, 2021
Amnesty International — part of the group that helped break the news of journalists and heads of state being targeted by NSO’s government-grade spyware, Pegasus — has released a tool to check if your phone has been affected. Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge.
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New analysis further links Pegasus spyware to Jamal Khashoggi murder
The Verge
DECEMBER 21, 2021
New forensic analysis indicates that representatives of the United Arab Emirates government installed Pegasus spyware on the phone of Hanan Elatr, wife of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, just months before her husband was killed. As a spyware company, NSO’s operations have long been shrouded in secrecy.
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Germany's federal police agency secretly purchased and used controversial spyware 'Pegasus'
TechSpot
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
German news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) notes that the federal government held a closed-door session with the parliamentary Interior Committee of the Bundestag. In the meeting, it confirmed that the BKA bought Pegasus software from NSO Group in 2019. The agency made the purchase in "the utmost secrecy" against the.
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Pegasus spyware used to target phones of journalists and activists, investigation finds
The Verge
JULY 18, 2021
The numbers on the list were singled out for possible surveillance by countries who are clients of NSO, the report states, which markets its spyware to governments to track potential terrorists and criminals. It’s not the first time NSO’s Pegasus spyware has been accused of being part of a larger surveillance campaign.
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91 Microsoft Word exploit linked to cyberspying in Ukraine conflict
Network World
APRIL 12, 2017
A previously unknown Microsoft Office vulnerability was recently used to deliver spyware to Russian-speaking targets, in a possible case of cyberespionage. Once opened, the malicious document will deliver FinSpy, a surveillance software that’s been marketed to governments.
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Microsoft files amicus brief with other tech giants in case against ‘dangerous’ NSO Group
GeekWire
DECEMBER 21, 2020
The brief outlines how private-sector offensive actors (PSOAs) such as NSO Group are “dangerous” and “powerful” because they allegedly sell cyberweapons to government customers and aim to receive legal immunity as a result. The Facebook-owned messaging platform sued NSO Group last year over the exploit.
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The FBI reportedly confirms it tested NSO’s spyware
The Verge
FEBRUARY 2, 2022
The FBI has confirmed to The Washington Post that the agency had a license to use NSO’s Pegasus spyware and that it tested out the software’s capabilities. The company was blacklisted by the US government , severely limiting how it can do business with tech companies based in the States. Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge.
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3 Percent ($30B) of U.S. Military Funding Dedicated to Cybersecurity
SecureWorld News
JANUARY 9, 2025
government than anything else," said Staynings. Protecting military mobile devices Standards and policies will be implemented to secure Department of Defense mobile devices from foreign spyware. Agencies must report any compromises involving foreign spyware over the past two years.
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Restructuring at Controversial NSO Group: Will It Make a Difference?
SecureWorld News
AUGUST 25, 2022
Israeli spyware company NSO Group has experienced quite a bit of controversy in the last few years. Its spyware product, Pegasus, has been used by various criminals and nation states to target individuals of interest, such as activists, politicians, and business leaders. After being blacklisted by the U.S.,
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NSO Group's Spyware Breached a Journalist's iPhone After Apple Sued
Gizmodo
APRIL 5, 2022
NSO Group, the creepy spyware firm known for selling its services to authoritarian governments throughout the world, is in trouble again. A new report shows that the company’s most notorious malware, Pegasus, was used to hack the iPhone of a Jordanian journalist in December. The hack occurred several weeks after… Read more.
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Technology News and Hot Topics
CTOvision
DECEMBER 4, 2014
Regin, new computer spyware, discovered by Symantec. Symantec says the bug, named Regin, was probably created by a government and has been used for six years against a range … Read more on BBC News. We believe our enterprise and government customers will be looking to focus on connecting technology innovation on a global scale.
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Predator Files: A Scathing Indictment of EU Surveillance Regulation
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 21, 2023
The report, titled " Predator Files: Caught in the Net ," delves into the operations of the "Intellexa alliance," a complex network of interconnected companies that develop and market powerful spyware used to monitor and manipulate individuals worldwide. businesses and government entities were prohibited from doing business with it." "In
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NSO Group Placed on U.S. Blacklist
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 4, 2021
The infamous Israel-based NSO Group, known for its hacking spyware Pegasus, was placed on the United States Government's Entity List for engaging in malicious cyber activities, along with three other foreign companies, Candiru, Computer Security Initiative Consultancy PTE (COSEINC), and Positive Technologies.
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Fed Tech News Roundup
CTOvision
JULY 6, 2015
Google-style recruiting — even in government FCW (Today) - Hire people who are better than you, and make sure they’re smart and curious, says Google exec Laszlo Bock.Google is famous for its culture of work as play. Dezzutti has been instrumental in Market Connections’ efforts to provide views and trends to government.
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Apple pulls no punches in lawsuit against 'amoral' NSO Group
Computerworld Vertical IT
NOVEMBER 24, 2021
Israeli firm NSO Group is a spyware firm that provides surveillance services to governments. It effectively privatizes state-sponsored snooping and enables even the most repressive government to outsource such tasks. Why this should matter to your business.
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Creepy Spyware Company Goes Broke
Gizmodo
MARCH 28, 2022
Long accused of helping authoritarian governments to spy on political dissidents and activists, the creepy surveillance company has abruptly shut down amidst an ongoing investigation into its business dealings. FinFisher is no more. Read more.
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New US rules on spyware exports try to limit surveillance tech like Pegasus
The Verge
OCTOBER 22, 2021
The Commerce Department outlined the change in a press release on Wednesday, which requires US companies to have a license in order to sell spyware and other hacking software to countries “of national security or weapons of mass destruction concern.”. The rule is complex and purposefully so.
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New FurBall Android Malware Used to Spy on Iranian Citizens
SecureWorld News
OCTOBER 21, 2022
Domestic Kitten, also known as the APT-C-50 group, has been spying on Iranian citizens since 2016 with various campaigns targeting anti-government protestors throughout the Middle East. This led the United States government, along with Australia, Canada, and the U.K., Iranian cyber actors draw international attention.
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How NSO Group's iPhone-Hacking Exploit Works
Gizmodo
DECEMBER 22, 2021
For years, the Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group has sparked fear and fascination throughout the international community via its hacking tools—the likes of which have been sold to authoritarian governments throughout the world and used against journalists, activists, politicians, and anybody else unfortunate enough to… Read more.
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First Chrome zero-day of 2025 shows just how fragile browser security is
Dataconomy
MARCH 27, 2025
The operation took aim at numerous Russian targets, striking at media houses, academic institutions, and government entities alike, with stealth and precision. Horrifyingly, this spyware break-in went virtually unnoticed. The crew behind Operation Academy Stealer did their homework. Simplicity belies the danger of such exploits.
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Breaking: Apple Sues 'Abusive State-Actor' NSO Group
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 23, 2021
The steps we’re taking today will send a clear message: In a free society, it is unacceptable to weaponize powerful state-sponsored spyware against those who seek to make the world a better place.". Being on this list effectively blocks the government or its vendors from doing business with NSO. And he didn't stop there.
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