Amnesty International’s Security Lab has discovered that well-known journalists in India were hacked by the spyware Pegasus. Testing their devices, Siddharth Varadarajan, editor of The Wire, and Anand Mangnale, South Asia editor at the Organized Crime and Corruption Report Project (OCCRP), were confirmed to be victims of the Pegasus spyware in India this year. The journalists received warnings from Apple, informing them of “state-sponsored hacking,” and their phones were subsequently tested. This revelation came after government officials pressured Apple to provide alternative explanations regarding security alerts sent to opposition leaders and journalists.
Pegasus, developed by the NSO Group, is sold exclusively to governments. This spyware allows attackers to extract all data from smartphones, including those with updated software, as well as access the camera and microphone in real-time. Privacy activists argue that this technology is an unconstitutional form of surveillance.
According to the collective Forbidden Stories, dozens of opposition leaders, journalists, and activists were targeted by the Pegasus spyware by 2021. The central government has not categorically denied the purchase or use of Pegasus. However, it has refused to cooperate with the investigation ordered by the Supreme Court to disclose the use of Pegasus in 2021.
In addition to Varadarajan and Mangnale, the Security Lab also discovered that their phones were infected, indicating the presence of the Pegasus spyware. The central government claims to be investigating the alerts sent to journalists and many opposition members in Parliament.
The use of the Pegasus spyware by the Indian government has sparked global interest and sparked discussions about alternative surveillance technologies. It has now been revealed that the Directorate of Signals Intelligence of the Defense Intelligence Agency purchased equipment from Cognyte, a company facing similar espionage allegations in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
What is the Pegasus spyware?
Pegasus spyware is a program developed by the NSO Group that is sold to governments. It allows attackers to extract all data from an infected smartphone and gain access to the camera and microphone in real-time.
What actions have Amnesty International and Amnesty International Security Lab taken?
Amnesty International and Amnesty International Security Lab conducted tests on journalists’ devices, resulting in the discovery of the presence of the Pegasus spyware.
What are security alerts in Apple?
Security alerts in Apple are warnings sent by Apple to users in case potential security threats, such as hacking or espionage, are detected.
Source: Amnesty International, The Wire, OCCRP
The source of the article is from the blog scimag.news