Spyware

US adds Israeli spyware company NSO Group to trade blacklist

The Israeli firm is behind the Pegasus phone hacking spyware that has reportedly been used around the world to break into the phones of human rights activists, journalists and politicians.

Heads of state on NSO spyware potential target list include Macron, Khan

Among potential targets found on a list of 50,000 phone numbers leaked to Amnesty and nonprofit Forbidden Stories include Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France, Imran Khan of Pakistan, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa and Barham Salih of Iraq.

How NSO spyware became a favourite espionage tool for autocratic regimes

The latest NSO Group hack reveals grievous abuse of democracy, but this is not the first time the Israeli-linked company has been used as a weapon to target people.

US: China govt contracts criminal hackers, behind Microsoft cyberattack

Opening a new area of tensions, the United States is joined by NATO, the European Union, Britain, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada to level allegations against the Chinese government for “malicious” cyber activity.

Google, Cisco, others wake up to threat from ‘cyber-mercenary’ NSO Group

Several tech giants have joined the legal battle against the Israeli spyware firm for creating a “systemic cybersecurity risk.”

UK exported spying technology to autocratic states like Saudi Arabia, UAE

Reaping nearly $100 million in sales over five years, the British government provided spyware, wiretaps and other telecom interception tools to 17 countries, many with a track record of targeting dissent and undemocratic behaviour.

India and several governments use Israeli spyware to breach WhatsApp

WhatsApp has filed a complaint against NSO Group’s Pegasus software which was used in April and May 2019 to exploit a vulnerability in the communications company’s popular software to spy on dissidents, journalists, lawyers and more.

UN surveillance expert urges global moratorium on sale of spyware

David Kaye, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, submitted his recommendations in a report published to the UN Human Rights Council, which will open a three-week session next week.

Saudi friend of Khashoggi sues Israeli surveillance firm

Omar Abdulaziz, an online critic of the Saudi royals, files lawsuit against Israel's NSO claiming its sophisticated spyware targeted him and helped lead to the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Amnesty International: employee targeted with Israeli spyware

Internet watchdog Citizen Lab has so far counted some 175 targets of NSO – an Israeli surveillance company – spyware worldwide.