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Questions and Answers
What was the incident that led to the investigation with Citizen Lab in 2020?
What is the primary function of Pegasus spyware?
Where is Citizen Lab, an international research laboratory, based?
What is the name of the Israeli technology company that develops and sells Pegasus spyware?
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What is the minimum action required by a user to install Pegasus spyware on their phone?
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Who first discovered Pegasus spyware in 2016?
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What is the primary purpose of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware, according to the company?
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Which of the following companies has been linked to the development of cyber warfare capabilities, including the use of Pegasus spyware?
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What is a common feeling reported by journalists and activists who have been targeted by Pegasus spyware?
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Which of the following organizations has taken legal action against NSO Group and the Israeli Defense Ministry?
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What is a concern raised by the spread of Pegasus spyware?
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Which of the following countries has been linked to the use of Pegasus spyware to target journalists and activists?
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Study Notes
- Mid-2020: a mobile phone belonging to Al Jazeera Arabic was hacked, leading to an investigation with Citizen Lab.
- Pegasus is advanced spyware manufactured in Israel, first exposed in 2016, and has been sold to various governments for their use.
- With Pegasus, a nation can be brought to its knees rapidly with the click of a button, if the rules are ignored.
- The details of Pegasus spyware's code and malicious code are very difficult to find out.
- Al Jazeera Arabic investigative reporter Tamar Amisha tracked the spyware over many months, having one of his own phones constantly monitored.
- Citizen Lab, an international research laboratory based in Canada, specializes in data surveillance and was the first to expose Pegasus spyware in 2016.Here is a summary of the text in detailed bullet points:
• In 2016, Ahmed Mansour, a UAE activist, received suspicious SMS messages that led to the discovery of Pegasus spyware, a zero-day exploit, on his phone.
• The spyware was linked to NSO Group, an Israeli technology company that develops and sells spyware to governments.
• NSO Group's Pegasus spyware is capable of infiltrating and controlling smartphones, including iPhones, and can access private information, such as phone calls, text messages, and encrypted messages.
• The spyware can be installed on a phone without the user's knowledge or action, and can be delivered through a zero-click attack, which means the user doesn't need to click on a link or open a file.
• Citizen Lab, a research group, has been tracking NSO Group's Pegasus spyware and has identified numerous instances of its use against journalists, activists, and politicians.
• In 2019, WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, accused NSO Group of hacking its platform, raising concerns about the security of the popular messaging app.
• The use of Pegasus spyware has been linked to human rights abuses, as it is often used by governments to target political dissidents, journalists, and activists.
• NSO Group claims that its spyware is only used by government agencies to prevent terrorism and crime, but critics argue that the company's technology is often used to suppress political dissent and violate human rights.
• The company's clients include the governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have used the spyware to target journalists and activists.
• Dark Matter, an Emirati company, has been linked to the development of cyber warfare capabilities, including the use of Pegasus spyware.
• The company has employed former US intelligence officials, including former NSA employees, to develop its cyber capabilities.
• The use of Pegasus spyware has been documented in several countries, including Mexico, Kazakhstan, and Lebanon.
• Journalists and activists who have been targeted by Pegasus spyware have reported feeling a sense of vulnerability and fear, as they are often unable to protect themselves from the sophisticated attacks.
• The spread of Pegasus spyware has raised concerns about the lack of regulation in the cyber surveillance industry and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
• Amnesty International has taken legal action against NSO Group and the Israeli Defense Ministry, accusing them of violating human rights and failing to prevent the misuse of Pegasus spyware.
• An Israeli court dismissed the case, citing national security concerns, but Amnesty International has vowed to continue fighting for accountability and transparency in the cyber surveillance industry.
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Description
Learn about Pegasus spyware, its capabilities, and its use by governments to target journalists, activists, and politicians. Discover how it was discovered and the concerns it raises about human rights and cyber surveillance regulation.
