Pegasus Project: A global investigative project has revealed important revelations that Pegasus spyware from Israeli company NSO Group targeted more than 300 mobile phone numbers in India i.e. they were spied. Under this project, online news platform The Wire revealed on Sunday that it includes two Union ministers, three opposition leaders, a person holding a constitutional position and 40 prominent journalists from several media institutions, including the Indian Express. According to The Wire, there are about 50,000 telephone numbers in the leaked global database, and France’s non-profit Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International found this data first. According to the NSO Group, Pegasus has been sold only to government agencies for the purpose of fighting terrorism and crime, but in many countries there have been allegations of its use to spy on people.
The biggest concern about Pegasus spyware is that earlier, if you clicked on an unknown text link, then the phone was infected with the virus, but Pegasus is a zero-click virus, that is, the virus can spread without clicking on the user’s phone. is. Claudo Guarnieri, head of Amnesty International’s Berlin-based security lab, told The Guardian that once Pegasus is on the phone, Pegasus has more control over it than the user. After this attack, all information like SMS, E-mail, WhatsApp chat, phone / video, Internet browsing history, contact book, microphone and location etc.
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Politics heats up over attack on privacy
The central government has denied allegations of government surveillance through Pegasus. The central government has said in the statement that earlier also allegations of using Pegasus through WhatsApp were made, but even at that time there was no fact in the reports and it was denied by all the parties including WhatsApp in the Supreme Court. The central government has said that these allegations appear to defame Indian democracy and its institutions.
At the same time, the opposition is adopting an aggressive stand regarding this matter. Opposition leaders say that this is a serious matter and an attack on privacy. Opposition leaders have raised the question whether India is now turning into a police state. The opposition is still discussing whether to raise this issue in the monsoon session. According to Anand Sharma, deputy leader of Congress in Rajya Sabha, the government cannot run away from its responsibility. The Congress leader has raised the question that which are the agencies that got this malware and which are the agencies who have bought it? CPI’s parliamentary party leader Binoy Vishwam has alleged that BJP has turned India into a surveillance state. Vishwam has said to give notice for the adjournment motion in Parliament.
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How to avoid Zero-click Attack?
- Zero-click attack is very difficult to detect, due to which it is also very difficult to prevent it. Identifying this type of attack becomes more difficult in encrypted environments. However, one thing users can do is to keep all operating systems and software updated so as to get maximum protection.
- Do not download and install any app from anywhere other than Google Play or Apple’s App Store.
- Do not switch browser to browser to use multiple apps at the same time and use mail or social media. According to experts it is not convenient but it is more secure.
(Source: Indian Express)
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