NSO Group, an Israeli company known for its advanced cyber weaponry, has been ordered by a US court to provide instant messaging platform WhatsApp with codes of its notorious spyware Pegasus, as well as other spyware technology.&nbsp;

The instructions were handed down as part of an ongoing legal battle in which WhatsApp had alleged that the Israeli company's spyware was used against 1,400 WhatsApp users over a two-week period.

<h2>A major legal victory</h2>

As per the Guardian, this is a major legal victory for Meta-owned WhatsApp which launched the lawsuit against NSO in 2019. The Pegasus code, along with the&nbsp;code of other surveillance products, is considered a closely guarded state secret by NSO.&nbsp;

The company is subject to strict regulation by the Israeli ministry of defence, which must approve all sales of its licences to foreign governments.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebooks-meta-stops-paying-news-publishers-in-australia-pull-down-news-tab-695471">Meta stops paying news publishers in Australia, pulls down news tab in ongoing tussle</a>

Despite NSO's plea to be excused from its discovery obligations due to "various US and Israeli restrictions," Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled in favour of WhatsApp. She ordered NSO to produce "all relevant spyware" from the period one year before and after the alleged attacks on WhatsApp users, from 29 April 2018 to 10 May 2020.&nbsp;

Additionally, NSO is also required to provide WhatsApp with information "concerning the full functionality of the relevant spyware."

However, Judge Hamilton ruled in NSO's favour on one issue: the company will not have to disclose its clients' names or information about its server architecture.

Watch |&nbsp;Dozens in Jordan targeted by authorities via Pegasus, says reports

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Celebrating the victory as a "milestone," a WhatsApp spokesperson said: "The recent court ruling is an important milestone in our long-running goal of protecting WhatsApp users against unlawful attacks. Spyware companies and other malicious actors need to understand they can be caught and will not be able to ignore the law."

<h2>What is Pegasus?</h2>

NSO's Pegasus software is a powerful spyware capable of hacking any mobile phone, and obtaining unrestricted access to phone calls, emails, photos, location data, and encrypted messages without the user's knowledge.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nso-snoop-row-how-pegasus-broke-into-whatsapp-260055">Explainer: NSO spygate row - How Pegasus broke into WhatsApp</a>

Its maker, NSO, was blacklisted by the Joe Biden administration in 2021, citing actions "contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the US".

NSO sells its spyware to government clients worldwide, and maintains that the agencies using its technology are responsible for its use. While NSO does not disclose its clients' identities, research and media reports have linked countries such as Poland, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, India, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates using Pegasus against dissidents, journalists, and human rights activists.

(With inputs from agencies)

NSO Group, an Israeli company known for its advanced cyber weaponry, has been ordered by a US court to provide instant messaging platform WhatsApp with codes of its notorious spyware Pegasus, as well as other spyware technology.

NSO Group, an Israeli company known for its advanced cyber weaponry, has been ordered by a US court to provide instant messaging platform WhatsApp with codes of its notorious spyware Pegasus, as well as other spyware technology. The instructions were handed down as part of an ongoing legal battle in which WhatsApp had alleged that the Israeli company's spyware was used against 1,400 WhatsApp users over a two-week period. A major legal victory As per the Guardian, this is a major legal victory for Meta-owned WhatsApp which launched the lawsuit against NSO in 2019. The Pegasus code, along with the code of other surveillance products, is considered a closely guarded state secret by NSO. The company is subject to strict regulation by the Israeli ministry of defence, which must approve all sales of its licences to foreign governments. Also read | Meta stops paying news publishers in Australia, pulls down news tab in ongoing tussle Despite NSO's plea to be excused from its discovery obligations due to "various US and Israeli restrictions," Judge Phyllis Hamilton ruled in favour of WhatsApp. She ordered NSO to produce "all relevant spyware" from the period one year before and after the alleged attacks on WhatsApp users, from 29 April 2018 to 10 May 2020. Additionally, NSO is also required to provide WhatsApp with information "concerning the full functionality of the relevant spyware." However, Judge Hamilton ruled in NSO's favour on one issue: the company will not have to disclose its clients' names or information about its server architecture. Watch | Dozens in Jordan targeted by authorities via Pegasus, says reports × Celebrating the victory as a "milestone," a WhatsApp spokesperson said: "The recent court ruling is an important milestone in our long-running goal of protecting WhatsApp users against unlawful attacks. Spyware companies and other malicious actors need to understand they can be caught and will not be able to ignore the law." What is Pegasus? NSO's Pegasus software is a powerful spyware capable of hacking any mobile phone, and obtaining unrestricted access to phone calls, emails, photos, location data, and encrypted messages without the user's knowledge. Also read | Explainer: NSO spygate row - How Pegasus broke into WhatsApp Its maker, NSO, was blacklisted by the Joe Biden administration in 2021, citing actions "contrary to the foreign policy and national security interests of the US". NSO sells its spyware to government clients worldwide, and maintains that the agencies using its technology are responsible for its use. While NSO does not disclose its clients' identities, research and media reports have linked countries such as Poland, Saudi Arabia, Rwanda, India, Hungary, and the United Arab Emirates using Pegasus against dissidents, journalists, and human rights activists. (With inputs from agencies)

US judge orders Pegasus maker NSO to share secret spyware code with WhatsApp

Asher Levi, the chairman of the NSO Group, has announced Tuesday he is stepping down.

The group is facing backlash over its controversial Pegasus spyware that has recently been accused of snooping on Israeli citizens.

Without citing sources, the Calcalist financial daily had said police have possessed the software since 2013.

Israel's parliament will seek an explanation from police over the force's reported use of the hacking tool.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-to-probe-allegations-of-pegasus-spyware-use-against-own-citizens-445997">Also read |&nbsp;Israel to probe allegations of Pegasus spyware use against own citizens</a>

Pegasus, a surveillance product made by the Israeli firm NSO that can turn a mobile phone into a pocket spying device, has remained a source of global controversy following revelations last year it was used to spy on journalists and dissidents worldwide.&nbsp;

Once installed in a mobile phone, Pegasus allows access to the user's messaging and data, as well as remote activation of the device for sound and image capture.

NSO said it could not confirm or deny any existing or potential customers. It said it does not operate the system once sold to its governmental customers nor is it involved in any way in the system’s operation.

"NSO sells its products under license and regulation to intelligence and law enforcement agencies to prevent terror and crime under court orders and the local laws of their countries,” it said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pegasus-snooping-row-apple-files-lawsuit-against-israels-nso-431515">Also read |&nbsp;Pegasus snooping row: Apple files lawsuit against Israel's NSO</a>

Last month, a group of US lawmakers asked the Treasury Department and State Department to sanction NSO and three other foreign surveillance companies they say helped authoritarian governments commit human rights abuses.

In November, Apple sued NSO, saying that it violated US&nbsp;laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones.

NSO has also faced either legal action or criticism from Microsoft Corp, Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc, Google parent Alphabet Inc and Cisco Systems Inc.

Israel's defence ministry, which must approve all exports of Israeli-made defence industry products, has also opened an investigation into sales of Pegasus overseas.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Asher Levi, the chairman of the NSO Group, has announced Tuesday he is stepping down. The group is facing backlash over its controversial Pegasus spyware that has recently been accused of snooping on Israeli citizens.

Asher Levi, the chairman of the NSO Group, has announced Tuesday he is stepping down. The group is facing backlash over its controversial Pegasus spyware that has recently been accused of snooping on Israeli citizens. Without citing sources, the Calcalist financial daily had said police have possessed the software since 2013. Israel's parliament will seek an explanation from police over the force's reported use of the hacking tool. Also read | Israel to probe allegations of Pegasus spyware use against own citizens Pegasus, a surveillance product made by the Israeli firm NSO that can turn a mobile phone into a pocket spying device, has remained a source of global controversy following revelations last year it was used to spy on journalists and dissidents worldwide. Once installed in a mobile phone, Pegasus allows access to the user's messaging and data, as well as remote activation of the device for sound and image capture. NSO said it could not confirm or deny any existing or potential customers. It said it does not operate the system once sold to its governmental customers nor is it involved in any way in the system’s operation. "NSO sells its products under license and regulation to intelligence and law enforcement agencies to prevent terror and crime under court orders and the local laws of their countries,” it said. Also read | Pegasus snooping row: Apple files lawsuit against Israel's NSO Last month, a group of US lawmakers asked the Treasury Department and State Department to sanction NSO and three other foreign surveillance companies they say helped authoritarian governments commit human rights abuses. In November, Apple sued NSO, saying that it violated US laws by breaking into the software installed on iPhones. NSO has also faced either legal action or criticism from Microsoft Corp, Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc, Google parent Alphabet Inc and Cisco Systems Inc. Israel's defence ministry, which must approve all exports of Israeli-made defence industry products, has also opened an investigation into sales of Pegasus overseas. (With inputs from agencies)

NSO Group's chairman Asher Levi quits amid row over use of Pegasus spyware on Israeli citizens

Amid worldwide uproar over NSO's Pegasus surveillance software allegedly used by various government agencies on individuals, Google in a blog post has tried to explain how the Israel-based company hacked into iPhones without anybody's knowledge.

Google said it is aware "NSO sells similar zero-click capabilities which target Android devices". It said that the "one-click exploit" occurs when a person's phone is being hacked when the link is clicked once.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-spyware-row-nso-may-shut-down-pegasus-unit-436902">Also Read:&nbsp;Amid spyware row, NSO may shut down Pegasus unit</a>

Google described how the Pegasus software hacked into iPhones. The search giant said in the post that NSO is now offering their clients "zero-click exploitation technology" allowing an attack on a person's phone even when the user hasn't clicked on a phishing link.&nbsp;

"In the zero-click scenario no user interaction is required," the blog post said. This means the attacker targeting a specific person does not need to send a phishing message since it works "silently in the background".

Watch:&nbsp;French President Macron changes phone after Pegasus case

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"It's a weapon against which there is no defence," the Google post added. A person therefore can be targeted just for using a phone citing the Apple attack. A person with a phone number or an AppleID username can become a target, it informed.&nbsp;

Google said the "initial entry point" for Pegasus on the iPhone was the iMessage.

The Pegasus software uses GIF files in iMessages to target users. It uses the "fake gif" trick to hack into phones covertly even as the person remains unaware.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science-tech/pegasus-snooping-effect-apple-to-alert-users-whenever-iphones-get-hacked-by-spyware-432997">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;Apple to alert users whenever iPhones get hacked by spyware</a>

The US government had recently blacklisted the NSO group since it supplied spyware to foreign governments that used tools to "maliciously target" government officials, journalists, business people and activists.

The post said Apple worked on the problem and fixed it in September this year as it released a new iOS update.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Amid worldwide uproar over NSO's Pegasus surveillance software allegedly used by various government agencies on individuals, Google in a blog post has tried to explain how the Israel-based company hacked into iPhones without anybody's knowledge.

Amid worldwide uproar over NSO's Pegasus surveillance software allegedly used by various government agencies on individuals, Google in a blog post has tried to explain how the Israel-based company hacked into iPhones without anybody's knowledge. Google said it is aware "NSO sells similar zero-click capabilities which target Android devices". It said that the "one-click exploit" occurs when a person's phone is being hacked when the link is clicked once. Also Read: Amid spyware row, NSO may shut down Pegasus unit Google described how the Pegasus software hacked into iPhones. The search giant said in the post that NSO is now offering their clients "zero-click exploitation technology" allowing an attack on a person's phone even when the user hasn't clicked on a phishing link. "In the zero-click scenario no user interaction is required," the blog post said. This means the attacker targeting a specific person does not need to send a phishing message since it works "silently in the background". Watch: French President Macron changes phone after Pegasus case "It's a weapon against which there is no defence," the Google post added. A person therefore can be targeted just for using a phone citing the Apple attack. A person with a phone number or an AppleID username can become a target, it informed. Google said the "initial entry point" for Pegasus on the iPhone was the iMessage. The Pegasus software uses GIF files in iMessages to target users. It uses the "fake gif" trick to hack into phones covertly even as the person remains unaware. Also Read: Apple to alert users whenever iPhones get hacked by spyware The US government had recently blacklisted the NSO group since it supplied spyware to foreign governments that used tools to "maliciously target" government officials, journalists, business people and activists. The post said Apple worked on the problem and fixed it in September this year as it released a new iOS update. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Zero-click exploitation': Google describes how NSO's Pegasus hacked into iPhones

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US judge orders Pegasus maker NSO to share secret spyware code with WhatsApp

NSO Group's chairman Asher Levi quits amid row over use of Pegasus spyware on Israeli citizens

'Zero-click exploitation': Google describes how NSO's Pegasus hacked into iPhones