Your iPhone and the Pegasus spyware hack: What you need to know
Tech Republic Security
JULY 20, 2021
iPhones have been compromised by the NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. Should you be worried? That depends on who you ask.
Groups Security Spyware 
Google’s Threat Analysis Group’s Spyware Research: How CSVs Target Devices and Applications
Tech Republic Security
FEBRUARY 14, 2024
In a new report from Google's Threat Analysis Group, the researchers detail how commercial surveillance vendors particularly use spyware and target Google and Apple devices.
Spyware 
490
490 Join 83,000+
Insiders
Sign Up for our Newsletter
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Notorious iOS spyware has an Android sibling
Network World
APRIL 3, 2017
Security researchers have uncovered the Android version of an iOS spyware known as Pegasus in a case that shows how targeted electronic surveillance can be. Fortunately, the spyware never hit the mainstream. It was installed less than three dozen times on victim devices, most of which were located in Israel, according to Google.
Spyware 209
209 
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. These vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2023-41064 and CVE-2023-41061 , were actively abused as part of a zero-click exploit chain, according to security researchers at The Citizen Lab.
Spyware 117
117 
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. Apple also seems to have been giving notifications to that same high-risk group who they know have been targeted.
Spyware 110
110 
Use This Tool to Check If Your Phone's Been Hacked by the NSO Group's Spyware
Gizmodo
JULY 20, 2021
If you’ve been watching the news this week you may have heard something about the NSO Group, an Israeli spyware firm that currently stands accused of helping bad actors to hack journalists, politicians, and human rights activists throughout the world. Read more.
Spyware 109
109 
Microsoft files amicus brief with other tech giants in case against ‘dangerous’ NSO Group
GeekWire
DECEMBER 21, 2020
A group of tech companies including Microsoft today filed an amicus brief in a case brought by WhatsApp against NSO Group. Israel-based NSO Group is behind spyware called Pegasus that was used to access devices with just a phone call via WhatsApp. The Microsoft campus in Redmond. GeekWire File Photo).
Groups 145
145 
Microsoft and Google join Facebook’s legal fight against infamous spyware vendor
The Verge
DECEMBER 22, 2020
A group of high profile tech companies including Microsoft, Google, Cisco, and VMWare have filed an amicus brief in support of Facebook’s legal action against NSO Group, Microsoft has announced. Now NSO Group is appealing to overturn the ruling, and it’s this appeal attempt that Microsoft and others are pushing back against.
Spyware 140
140 
A New-ish Mobile Attack: Zero-Click Spyware
SecureWorld News
OCTOBER 24, 2022
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. Behind the attack is spyware manufacturer NSO Group, which sells technology to governments and law enforcement agencies, Bloomberg reported.
Spyware 100
100 
US sanctions NSO Group, others, for trafficking spyware and exploits
TechSpot
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is updating its list of sanctioned entities with a document it plans to fully publish on Thursday, but is viewable in a PDF now. It claims all four groups are engaged in activities "contrary to the national security or foreign.
Groups 119
119 
Apple Unveils 'Lockdown Mode' to Defend Against Spyware
SecureWorld News
JULY 8, 2022
Apple announced plans to launch a new security feature called "Lockdown Mode" that will be available this fall when Apple releases its annual iOS update. The NSO Group, and others, are helping cybercriminals and nation-states accomplish this, but Apple has a plan to defend against these attacks. Apple and NSO Group have a history.
Spyware 98
98 
US Adds Spyware Vendors to Entity List for Cyber Exploits Trafficking
SecureWorld News
JULY 20, 2023
Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has taken significant action to address the escalating concern surrounding the misuse of surveillance technology by foreign entities. This move targets the activities of spyware vendors that pose a serious threat to the privacy and security of individuals and organizations worldwide.
Spyware 96
96 
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. As the report describes it, NSO would deploy Pegasus malware through a series of malicious subdomains, exploiting security weaknesses on services like iMessage. Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge.
Web Services 114
114 
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. Was it simply a list of numbers?
Spyware 113
113 
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.,
Spyware 97
97 
3 Percent ($30B) of U.S. Military Funding Dedicated to Cybersecurity
SecureWorld News
JANUARY 9, 2025
Richard Staynings , Chief Security Strategist for IoT security company Cylera and teaching professor for cybersecurity at the University of Denver, provides comments throughout. Protecting military mobile devices Standards and policies will be implemented to secure Department of Defense mobile devices from foreign spyware.
Spyware 106
106 
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.
Groups 95
95 
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. This took place after security agents at the Dubai airport had confiscated the phone from Elatr.
Spyware 82
82 
Apple pulls no punches in lawsuit against 'amoral' NSO Group
Computerworld Vertical IT
NOVEMBER 24, 2021
Apple has punched back against the “amoral” surveillance as a service industry of smartphone snoopers, filing suit against the NSO Group and its owner, Q Cyber Technologies, and taking steps to further secure digital lives. Israeli firm NSO Group is a spyware firm that provides surveillance services to governments.
Groups 98
98 
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.
Spyware 141
141 
Amazon Cuts Off Service to NSO Spyware Firm Behind iPhone Hacks
Gizmodo
JULY 19, 2021
Amazon has cut off web hosting services for the NSO Group, an Israeli spyware firm that has been widely accused of aiding in the surveillance of journalists and political dissidents. Read more.
Spyware 82
82 
Breaking: Apple Sues 'Abusive State-Actor' NSO Group
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 23, 2021
Apple is suing NSO Group, the company most known for its ability to hack iPhones using previously un-discovered Zero-Day vulnerabilities. And Apple's Head of Security Engineering and Architecture was extremely blunt when he announced the lawsuit on Twitter. NSO Group Publicly Denounced by Privacy Advocates. link] — Ivan Krsti?
Groups 90
90 
If you have any of these Android apps, uninstall them now
TechSpot
JULY 29, 2022
This week, security group Dr. Web published its June 2022 mobile virus activity report describing around 30 popular Android apps containing trojans, adware, spyware, and other malware. Some had hundreds of thousands or even millions of Google Play Store downloads.
Spyware 130
130 
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. Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge. NSO isn’t the only company being added to the entity list on Thursday.
Spyware 63
63 
New zero-click iMessage Pegasus attack can blast right through iOS 14's security protections
TechSpot
AUGUST 24, 2021
Last year, it emerged that Facebook wanted to buy the infamous Pegasus spyware tool in 2017 with the explicit purpose to monitor iPhone and iPad users. Pegasus developer NSO Group refused to sell it for that purpose, as the firm is known for its strict policy of only licensing its.
Spyware 116
116 
Go Update Your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch Right Now
Gizmodo
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021
Apple just released an emergency patch to a security flaw that let NSO Group’s horrifying Pegasus spyware infect a target’s Apple devices—including their iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. The headline says it all, folks. Read more.
Apple 145
145 
Second Israeli firm accused of undermining iPhones, like NSO Group
Computerworld Vertical IT
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
As if recent revelations about NSO Group weren’t bad enough, yet another Israeli firm — QuaDream — has now been accused of using the same hack to undermine iPhone security. The company is smaller than NSO Group, but also sells smartphone hacking tools to governments. QuaDream also used the hack, Reuters claims.
Groups 92
92 
Another Secretive Spyware Firm Has Been Hacking iPhones
Gizmodo
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
As surveillance controversies have raged in connection with Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group, another, lesser known spyware firm from Israel has also apparently been hacking iPhones all over the world. Read more.
Spyware 65
65 
A Notorious Spyware Firm Claims It Won't Help Hack UK Phones Anymore
Gizmodo
OCTOBER 8, 2021
NSO Group, the notorious Israeli spyware vendor, will no longer allow its clients to hack citizens of the United Kingdom, sources close to the company told The Guardian this week. The changes have been “hard-coded” into NSO’s infamous malware, Pegasus, and will make future targeting of UK-based phone numbers… Read more.
Spyware 75
75 
Apple Releases Emergency Update to Patch iOS Zero-Days
SecureWorld News
OCTOBER 5, 2023
Apple recently issued an emergency security update in response to actively exploited iOS Zero-Day vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-42824 and CVE-2023-5217). Many of these devices, especially iPhones, are used by high-profile individuals like politicians and journalists, enticing state-backed attackers and spyware vendors.
Apple 111
111 
Notorious Spyware Firm Reportedly Offered 'Bags of Cash' for Access to U.S. Networks
Gizmodo
FEBRUARY 1, 2022
A whistleblower alleges that the scandal-ridden spyware firm NSO Group once offered a telecom security company “bags of cash” to buy access to its cellular networks, ostensibly so its clients could track specific mobile users within the United States. Read more.
Spyware 63
63 
Technology News and Hot Topics
CTOvision
DECEMBER 4, 2014
The chief administrative officer of RBS Group is doing so to highlight the way in which customer expectations in the world of banking are changing. “It’s Regin, new computer spyware, discovered by Symantec. History suggests Apple has the sense… This premium content is available for … Read more on Tech.pinions.
Symantec 282
282 
Apple Releases Security Update to Patch Actively Exploited Zero-Day
SecureWorld News
FEBRUARY 14, 2023
On Monday, February 13, 2023, Apple released security updates for its macOS, iOS, and Safari operating systems, including a fix for a Zero-Day vulnerability in WebKit. It is unclear if the Zero-Day was exploited in attacks linked to mercenary spyware vendors.
Apple 83
83 
Predator Files: A Scathing Indictment of EU Surveillance Regulation
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 21, 2023
In a groundbreaking investigative report, the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) media network, with technical assistance from Amnesty International's Security Lab, has exposed the shocking extent of the global surveillance crisis and the glaring inadequacies of EU regulation in curbing it. Leighton said.
Spyware 119
119 
Jamf debuts sophisticated security protection for executive iPhones
Computerworld Vertical IT
APRIL 21, 2023
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Apple ecosystem is fighting back in a big way against the mercenary spyware companies that have made headlines recently.
Spyware 82
82 
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. Raimondo, the US Secretary of Commerce.
Spyware 57
57 
Top 5 Internet Security Tips
Galido
MARCH 13, 2017
Internet security has become a hot topic of debate today, and his really comes as little surprise given the large amounts of devastating malware attacks users are experiencing all around the globe. Store these login details on a secured USB drive or password manager. Internet Protection Software.
Internet 77
77 
The Ex-NSA Operative Cyber-Mercenary Scandal Shows the Spyware Industry Is Totally Out of Control
Gizmodo
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
Earlier this week, the Department of Justice revealed that three former U.S. intelligence operatives were facing federal charges in connection with their work for BlackMatter, a foreign cybersecurity company based in the United Arab Emirates. Read more.
Spyware 107
107 
Dozens of Al Jazeera Journalists Were Hacked Via Zero-Click iPhone Exploit
Gizmodo
DECEMBER 21, 2020
It appears that 36 Al Jazeera journalists reportedly had their personal iPhones hacked using spyware created by NSO Group, a sketchy Israeli security firm. The terrifying thing is the zero-day, zero-click exploit, which abuses a vulnerability in iMessage, went undetected for about a year—and likely originated from… Read more.
Spyware 69
69 
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. Researchers believe the purpose of this could be to set up a larger spearphishing attack conducted via text messages.
Malware 96
96 
Creepy Spyware Company Goes Broke
Gizmodo
MARCH 28, 2022
FinFisher is no more. 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. Read more.
Spyware 67
67 
US athletes told to use burner phones at Beijing Winter Olympics
The Verge
JANUARY 22, 2022
In 2019, China was caught secretly installing spyware on tourists’ phones who entered from the Xinjiang region. In addition, research group Citizen Lab found that China’s My2022 Olympic app , which all attendees are required to install, is full of security holes that could lead to privacy breaches, surveillance, and hacking.
Spyware 110
110 
Let's personalize your content