WARNING: The cybersecurity world was rocked this week with the news that Pegasus spyware has been discovered on at least 50,000 mobile phones.
Technology
On Monday, security experts announced the discovery of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware on the phones of activists, journalists, politicians, judges, lawyers, teachers, business executives, and others. Although the software is yet to be found on the phones of everyday Americans, the discovery was a powerful example of how vulnerable we all are to digital prying.
The 50,000 phones infected with the Pegasus spyware include mobile devices belonging to associates close to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the wife of a political activist jailed in Morocco, as well as devices of journalists and reporters with CNN, The Associated Press, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
The Israel-based NSO Group licensed the Pegasus spyware to several global government agencies, which provided various government leaders with the technology to successfully spy on Americans and others via their mobile devices. The software runs secretly on smartphones and provides clear evidence to prying eyes of what mobile owners are doing.
According to The Washington Post, Pegasus spyware can be installed remotely without a surveillance target ever having to open a document or website link. The spyware reveals everything to the government customers who control it, including text messages, photos, emails, videos, contact lists, and more. It can even record phone calls and secretly turn on a phone’s microphone and camera without the device owner’s knowledge.
The Israeli creator of Pegasus defended its product on Monday and said the spyware wasn’t designed to be used against activists, journalists, politicians, and ordinary citizens.
“NSO Group licenses its products only to government intelligence and law enforcement agencies for the sole purpose of preventing and investigating terror and serious crime,” the company said on its website. “Our vetting process goes beyond legal and regulatory requirements to ensure the lawful use of our technology as designed.”
The fact that the Pegasus spyware has already been used to spy on journalists and business executives is a signal that the technology exists and can be used against any one of us at any time. Security experts are warning that mobile users should regularly update device software and use two-factor authentication to keep mainstream hackers at bay. Additionally, placing a piece of black tape over a front-facing mobile camera (and only removing it when actually needing the camera feature) is another helpful safety tip to prevent someone from hacking your camera and spying on you without your knowledge.
OK WASSUP! covers Technology News:
Pegasus spyware infects thousands of mobile phones.
They even sell the patches now you can put over your camera. So if they hack you nobody can see what you are doing. It is sad we have to take measures like that but that is technology.