Poland launches investigation in Pegasus spyware use by government

Date:
Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:40:32 +0000

Description:
Thousands of phone numbers linked to political figures were found in a
Pegasus data leak.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Following allegations made by Polands current Prime Minister in February
2024, the Polish government has formally launched an investigation into the use of Pegasus spyware by the previous administration.

Former officials who were involved in the use of the spyware will likely face criminal charges, with the victims potentially able to claim financial compensation and be involved in the criminal proceedings.

Pegasus is a phone-based spyware that covertly hijacks the device providing full access to apps and files, while also turning the device into a 24/7 tracking and listening device. Thousands targeted by Pegasus

A 2021 data leak, accessed by the Guardian , showed that thousands of telephone numbers spread across several countries were accessed by the
Pegasus spyware, with a number of media outlets being targeted by governments in Eastern Europe, most notably by Hungarys Viktor Orbn.

The Pegasus software was developed in 2011 by the Israeli NSO group for both iPhone and Android devices, and can be used to remotely surveil individuals associated with terrorist groups, although it has been used more often to spy on opposition figures and media.

Other notable figures understood to have been targeted using the spyware include Polands current prime minister, Donald Tusk, and MEP Krzysztof
Brejza, alongside a longer list of high-profile politicians which remains confidential while criminal proceedings take place.

Adam Bodnar, Polands justice minister, said, This list is significantly more extensive than the list that has been made public already, a lot of other interesting public people.

The Pegasus spyware was allegedly widely used by Polands Law and Justice administration which was in power between 2015 and 2023, with the use of the spyware subsiding in 2021 following widespread media coverage following the data leak. More from TechRadar Pro US and UK sign deal to partner on AI research Take a look at our guide to the best business VPN tools for staying safe online OWASP Foundation reveals data breach following Wiki web server issue




======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/poland-launches-investigation-in-pegasus-spyware -use-by-government


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)