Germany’s intelligence service (BND) also bought and used it: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/pegasusprojekt-nso-pegasus-bundesnachrichtendienst-1.5433974 (german)
This has already been posted: https://lemmy.ml/post/166387
A perspective about NSO that I find important but not usually covered is how their success is related to centralized mobile phone operating software. One vulnerability exposes billions of devices. Perhaps if we had FOSS mobile OS options as mainstream installations, it would not be as easy for these companies to hack almost anybody at once.
yes there’s few things i can think of
- centralized. One vulnerability exposes billions of devices
- closed source. cannot be audited easily. so bugs remain undiscovered and backdoors can be built in
- you can’t verify android software with a hash. so infected versions can be selectively pushed to particular people.
- monopoly. manufacturers are barred my Google from making/selling non android phones and probably lots of other contributors. all of the above could be fixed with laws, or good regulation.
you can’t verify android software with a hash. so infected versions can be selectively pushed to particular people.
This would be NSO group’s dream I reckon.
