Everything You Need To Know About The NSO’s Pegasus Spyware
If you are wondering what is the meaning of the word ‘Pegasus’, well, the word has come from Greek mythology – a mythological white Horse with wings. The only difference is that the mythical creature can enter your smartphone/computer and give your data to other people. The Pegasus spyware is developed by an Israeli based technology firm, NSO (Niv Carmi, Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie). The spyware is a dangerous software virus that aims to gather information about a person/organization and supply it to other entities without your knowledge. It’s like 24-hour surveillance, but the catch is that you can’t see the camera!
The Pegasus spyware has been in the news for a while after a France based NGO, Forbidden Stories, with technical support from the renowned organization, Amnesty International revealed a leaked list containing more than 50,000 phone numbers that have either been spied upon or potential targets of surveillance using the Pegasus spyware. What is the Pegasus spyware? How does it enter a smartphone/computer? What is data that is comprised if the spyware enters your smartphone! Let’s find the answers together!
What Is The Job Of The Pegasus Spyware?
The Pegasus spyware basically enters your smartphone/computer and can steal your private data. It can access your photo gallery, passwords, contacts and even record your video. The Pegasus spyware is so advance that it can even access your microphone and location, following you like your shadow. If this didn’t scare you enough, well, a document from the NSO group reveals that the Pegasus spyware has ‘unlimited access to the target’s mobile device and has the ability to covertly collect each and every information from the target’s smartphone.
How Does Pegasus Infect Your Smartphone/Computer
Since the spyware utilizes cutting-edge technology, the Pegasus spyware knows many ways to enter your smartphone/computer. Earlier, Pegasus would choose a method like sending you a link through SMS or WhatsApp, and once you click on the link, your device could be infected, but now the tech world has improved so much that you don’t even have to click on a link to get your phone/computer infected. The Pegasus spyware can infiltrate your phone even through a missed call – a call that you didn’t even receive!
The Technology Behind The Pegasus Spyware
The NSO group’s Pegasus spyware hit the headlines in 2016. At that time, the initial version of the spyware used a technique known as – spearfishing, wherein it infiltrated the target’s mobile device by sending them a link through WhatsApp or SMS. Cut to 2019; the Pegasus spyware can infect your phone by exploiting bugs or sending you a missed call, making it impossible for you to know that you have been targeted.
How Can You Save Your Device From The Dangerous Spyware?
We know you were waiting for this question to get answered! To be honest, it’s practically impossible to completely save your phone from getting infiltrated by such a potent spyware but here are some precautionary steps that you can take to be on a safer side:
- Share your phone numbers with your trusted ones!
- You can use a VPN to protect your data and your identity.
- Always keep your smartphone updated since the spyware looks for bugs to enter the device.
- Use strong and unique passwords, and don’t save your passwords. (for obvious reasons)
Though the NSO group has revealed that the spyware can bypass all the security measures of your device, these steps will still protect you from less sophisticated hackers.
