Pegasus Spyware is employed by threat actors for its advanced capabilities to remotely infiltrate smartphones, enabling covert surveillance.
Its sophisticated features include zero-click exploits and silent data extraction which make it a powerful tool for espionage and monitoring targeted individuals without their knowledge or consent.
Recently, the cybersecurity researchers at Amnesty discovered that the USA asked the NSO group to disclose the code related to Pegasus spyware.
Technical analysis
The US court recently ordered the NSO Group to give Pegasus spyware details to WhatsApp. Amnesty International sees this as a step towards accountability for 1,400 affected users.
Here’s what Donncha O Cearbhaill, the Head of the Security Lab at Amnesty International stated:-
“This decision brings us a step closer towards accountability for up to 1,400 WhatsApp users targeted with Pegasus spyware in this case, as well as the countless other individuals around the world, who have continued to be targeted since this case was filed in 2019. This court order sends a clear signal to the surveillance industry that it cannot continue to enable spyware abuse with impunity.”
“While the court’s decision is a positive development, it is disappointing that NSO Group will be allowed to continue keeping the identity of its clients, who are responsible for this unlawful targeting, secret.”
The NSO Group claims Pegasus is sold only to governments. The Security Lab of NSO revealed widespread use against human rights defenders and journalists.
Besides this, the targets must find out the buyer who deployed the spyware against them for meaningful redress and justice.
The court order is related to a litigation that is now pending, whereby WhatsApp claims that 1,400 of its users were the victim of spyware developed by NSO Group.
All the attempts to avoid accountability by the NSO Group were rejected by the court. However, the legal disclosures pave the overdue path for spyware victims seeking justice.
Moreover, the recent progress in Poland and Spain investigations reveal the truth on Pegasus misuse against political opponents.
