Spyware and Pegasus: How Democracies Spy on Their Citizens
Writing for the New Yorker, Ronan Farrow reports on Pegasus, "a spyware technology designed by NSO Group, an Israeli firm, which can extract the contents of a phone, giving access to its texts and photographs, or activate its camera and microphone to.....»»
Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins Explains Why Ukraine Is Winning the Information War
The ability of anyone with a phone or laptop to see Russia’s invasion of Ukraine unfold in almost real time—and to believe what they’re seeing—comes to us thanks to the citizens operating what’s known as open-source inte.....»»
Apple Files Lawsuit Against NSO Group, Saying US Citizens Were Targets
Apple said on Tuesday it has filed a lawsuit against Israeli cyber firm NSO Group and its parent company OSY Technologies for alleged surveillance and targeting of U.S. Apple users with its Pegasus spyware. From a report: The iPhone maker said it is.....»»
People spreading misinformation are ridiculed rather than met with facts
Democracy is largely based on the idea that we as citizens can discuss matters openly with citizens aiming to be truthful......»»
Ukrainian government calls for game companies to cut off Russia during invasion
Vice PM says move "will motivate the citizens of Russia" to rise up in protest. Enlarge / Mykhailo Fedorov, the vice prime minister and minister of digital transformation of Ukraine, speaks at a December 2021 press conference. (credit:.....»»
How tech could help out endangered languages like Cherokee
By itself, being able to read smartphone home screens in Cherokee won't be enough to safeguard the Indigenous language, endangered after a long history of erasure. But it might be a step toward immersing younger tribal citizens in the language spoken.....»»
Behind the Stalkerware Network Spilling the Private Phone Data of Thousands
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch, written by security editor Zack Whittaker: Consumer-grade spyware is often sold under the guise of child monitoring software, but also goes by the term "stalkerware" for its ability to track and mo.....»»
How a Saudi Woman"s iPhone Revealed Hacking Around the World
A single activist helped turn the tide against NSO Group, one of the world's most sophisticated spyware companies now facing a cascade of legal action and scrutiny in Washington over damaging new allegations that its software was used to hack governm.....»»
Pegasus Spyware Should Be Banned, EU Data Agency Warns
NSO Group's controversial Pegasus spyware should be banned in the European Union, the bloc's in-house privacy watchdog warned on Tuesday. From a report: "The ban on the development and the deployment of spyware with the capability of Pegasus in the E.....»»
FBI notices sharp increase in SIM-swapping attacks leading to over $68 million of damages to US citizens
One evidence of the rapid increase in SIM-swapping attacks is the number of related complaints received by the FBI last year. Between January 2018 and December 2020, a total of 320 such complaints were filed that led to losses of $12 million. However.....»»
NSO Group Gave Pegasus Spyware Demo To the NYPD
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Motherboard: A section of the New York Police Department (NYPD) focused on intelligence gathering received a demo of NSO Group's controversial Pegasus spyware product, according to an email obtained by Motherb.....»»
Israel To Probe If Notorious Spyware Used Illicitly at Home
Israel will investigate allegations that police illicitly used homegrown spyware that's gained notoriety abroad against its own citizens. From a report: The government will form a committee to look into a series of reports by Calcalist, a Hebrew busi.....»»
Understanding what determines the benefits of bribery
Researchers in Hong Kong and the UK have found that a $1 investment in bribery returns $6–9 in terms of company value, with more money paid to an authority resulting in greater benefits. However, those benefits decrease if citizens of the country w.....»»
Second Israeli firm developed & sold exploit to break into iPhones remotely
A new report claims that an NSO Group rival, a lower-profile firm called QuaDream, had also exploited an iPhone flaw that allowed its customers to remotely hack smartphones.NSO Group's Pegasus hacking tool has been under such increased pressure that.....»»
FBI Confirms It Obtained NSO"s Pegasus Spyware
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: The FBI has confirmed that it obtained NSO Group's powerful Pegasus spyware, suggesting that it bought access to the Israeli surveillance tool to "stay abreast of emerging technologies and tradec.....»»
NSO tried to buy access to cell networks for “bags of cash,“ whistleblower says
"We drop bags of cash at your office": NSO allegedly sought access to SS7 network. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | spxChrome) A whistleblower has accused Pegasus spyware-maker NSO Group of offering "bags of cash" to security c.....»»
Report: NSO offered US firm “bags of cash” for help spying on cellphone users
"We drop bags of cash at your office": NSO allegedly sought access to SS7 network. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | spxChrome) A whistleblower has accused Pegasus spyware-maker NSO Group of offering "bags of cash" to security c.....»»
Investigating "safe hubs": Spaces to which people might flee during a disaster
How might a nation protect its citizens in times of disaster such as earthquakes or war? New research in the International Journal of the Built Environment and Asset Management looks at the concept of "safe hubs." Spaces to which people might flee du.....»»
Employment fears may explain rise of extremist parties across Europe
Fears over job security and quality of work for a new class of disaffected citizens—the 'precariat' – could explain the rise of popular extremist parties across Europe, according to a new study......»»
Citizens of countries that rebate carbon taxes aren’t aware of the rebate
Intended to make carbon taxes more popular, the scheme doesn't make an impression. Enlarge / Carbon tax isometric vector concept. (credit: Getty Images) One of the simplest ways to reduce carbon emissions is to put a price o.....»»
Israel police reportedly use Pegasus spyware on country’s own citizens, without warrants
It’s being reported today that Israel police are using NSO’s Pegasus spyware on the country’s own citizens, including opponents of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. NSO had previously claimed that Pegasus would not be used.....»»