Pegasus Spying: Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO Group developed the Pegasus spyware. This can infect the phone via a WhatsApp call, or a website link. The Pegasus spying is the most sophisticated smartphone attack ever. Firstly, it was noticed in the year 2016. In the year 2019, it is revealed that this spyware is used for snooping on human rights activists and journalists across the world.
On Sunday evening, so many websites, including The Guardian, and The Washington Post had claimed that more than 10 governments are using this spyware to spy on key media personalities, journalists, activists. As per the reports, in India, over 40 journalists were under Pegasus spying.
How is Pegasus installed on phone?
Through a malicious web link, Pegasus gain phone access. It would be installed on the phone, by clicking the link. Some new abilities were added to this spyware later. Researchers found that with a missed WhatsApp call also, Pegasus can be installed on the phone.
Once Pegasus had access to the device, deleting any call logs is possible. Hence, it is virtually impossible for the victim to know that their mobile was under the access of the spyware.
What can Pegasus do?
As per the Cybersecurity researchers, after the installation of Pegasus, it can steal passwords, text messages, contacts, access the mobile’s microphone, camera, GPS, and other information through the WhatsApp voice or video calls.
Kaspersky researchers called this a total surveillance tool. In 2017, they wrote; “Pegasus is modular malware. After scanning the device, it installs the required modules to read the messages and emails, capture screenshots, exfiltrate browser history, contacts, listen to calls, and so on.”
How to get rid of Pegasus?
Several Cybersecurity experts and analysts have said that to get completely rid of Pegasus spying, the only solution is discarding the affected phone. Even factory resetting is also not useful, as per the Citizen Lab.
In order to ensure your online accounts are safe, change the passwords of all the cloud-based services and applications that you were using on the malware-infected device.
Should you worry about Pegasus?
Not really. For that, two reasons are there.
One, It is old spyware. Now, the companies like Apple, Google, WhatsApp, Microsoft, and others have found and patched the software loopholes. But the new variants of Pegasus may also be out, which are potent.
Pegasus or something like that is a targeted surveillance tool. To purchase and handling it, a million dollars are required. Hence, only governments and big organizations can use it. These tools can be used against hundreds or thousands of people only. Primarily, this pegasus is used against politicians, journalists, lawyers, top business leaders, and the people having top-secret information. If you belong to these categories, chances are there to encounter Pegasus.
