Pegasus Spyware Information

Pegasus Spyware - Complete Information and How Does It Infect Our Phone

In 2019, Israeli hackers spied on Indian journalists and staff using sophisticated spyware called Pegasus. Created by a private company based in Israel, Pegasus spyware is a powerful malicious tool capable of stealing information. A joint investigation by research and media organizations called “Pegasus Project” a list of people identified by spyware was recently published as of July 2021. To read recent news articles you must think - what is Pegasus spyware and what is the big deal about it? My phone is also affected by Pegasus? This article will talk about what Pegasus Spyware actually is, what it does, how it affects you, and much more.

Pegasus Spyware - Complete Information and How Does It Infect Our Phone
Pegasus Spyware - Complete Information 


This article will discuss what Pegasus Spyware is and the answers to some of the most burning questions you have about it. Use the table below to jump directly to your query or read it to learn all about what Pegasus is.


What is Pegasus Spyware?

Before discussing everything about Pegasus, let's first learn what is spyware software or program.

Simply put, spyware is an unwanted malicious software that helps attackers to infiltrate various devices and steal information from them. Stealing certain types of data (be it personal files, bank account details, passwords, chat messages and much more) depends on the spyware and the will of the person who installed it on the target device. Spyware software can be installed on multiple devices and is often done without the victim knowing about it.

Created by an Israeli private surveillance agency called NSO Group, Pegasus Spyware is a highly sophisticated piece of spyware that can easily penetrate target devices and retrieve almost any information they want.

Pegasus spyware is marketed and supplied to governments around the world. The agency claims that the purpose of the spyware is to prevent any malicious attacks and to keep a close eye on suspects. However, the recent surge in data leaks has revealed that various governments used Pegasus to spy on people who were not wanted for it. The hateful use of this type of software has caused a great deal of controversy and users are now concerned about the security of their own devices.

You now have a better idea of ​​what this disgusting spyware is, find out how Pegasus works in the section below and send your personal information to the government.


How is Pegasus Spyware Infected on Your Phone?

People are concerned about their cybersecurity, one of which is how easily and efficiently Pegasus spyware works. Prior to the recent leak in 2019, Pegasus used multiple methods to worm on different people’s phones. Spyware has become more powerful since then and significantly uses the following methods to gain access to the target phone.

The first method involves a compromised website link that fools the victim into clicking. Once done, Pegasus is automatically installed on the device in the user's unknown background.

The second method involves the complex use of a zero-day vulnerability, which is an application or bug in the phone's operating system that companies still don't know about.

Targets could not even accept WhatsApp calls for spyware to infect their devices. One missed call to their phone number was enough and the spyware can now work by stealing data. Moreover, Pegasus automatically deletes the call log entry of that particular call, so the target does not even know if any call occurred at all. WhatsApp has since spread the issue.

When it comes to Apple's ecosystem, Pegasus spyware has recently started using zero-day vulnerabilities in Apple's iMessage. It provides Pegasus access to many phones around the world to run and collect data.


What does it collect all the data?

The amount of data that Pegasus spyware collects is terribly huge. Once installed on the hunting device, the phone can have complete control over the Pegasus' root features. Using this extensive control, spyware can gather a wealth of information and do things that are not possible with the user.

However, this is not where spyware stops. Pegasus Spyware can do all of the following, except for copying and pasting all of your sent or received messages:

  • Monitoring and recording calls
  • Create a clone of your entire contacts
  • Extract your entire photo gallery

Turn on your device's microphone and camera without your consent and record your conversations and movements from anywhere.

Since spyware acts like a complete malware that is heavily run, nothing can be said about how much information it is able to collect and return to anyone in control. However, from what we know and what we have we can certainly say that the scope of information stolen by Pegasus spyware is huge.


Which platforms does Pegasus spyware target?

The main targets of Pegasus spyware attacks are the iPhone and Android devices. However, this is a final list to say the least. You can probably install Pegasus on older Symbian and BlackBerry devices, as well as phones that are out of the update operating system.


A recent report by Amnesty researchers found that Pegasus could infiltrate the iOS ecosystem by using zero-click on Apple's mobile operating system. This method requires no interaction from the user and is almost undetectable. Citizen Lab researcher Bill Markzak recently noted that Apple devices, including the latest iOS version as of iOS 14.6, tend to zero-click on iMessage. Harmful actors can use these gaps to install Pegasus on your device.


Particularly worrying considering the speed that Pegasus has caught up with the latest Android and iOS operating systems. Does this mean that no one is really safe from Pegasus? If so, how dangerous is your spyware to privacy?


Is Pegasus Spyware Dangerous?

Speaking of the severity of Pegasus in general, there is no doubt that the widely discussed spyware is really dangerous. The basic principle behind this spyware is to collect as much information as possible from selected individuals and send it back to NSO clients. It is up to the perpetrators to decide what to do with the stolen data.

Well, spyware software rarely spreads to devices with very good intentions. So it is safe to assume that the people present at the recent Pegasus spyware leak are the target of a dangerous scheme.


Is my device vulnerable to spyware attacks?

Your Android or iOS phone, including almost everyone's device, is vulnerable to Pegasus spyware. However, since spyware deployed by NSO clients focuses on high-profile individuals, it is not a major cause for concern. NSO clients target them for one reason or another, be it national security or some publicity. While everyday smartphone users, Android or iPhone, are at risk of being infected by Pegasus, your phone is unlikely to be on your list of leaked users.

Outside there may be specially designed devices that are protected against Pegasus spyware attacks but it is better to assume.


How do I check if my device is infected with Pegasus spyware?

There are ways you can use it, even if the ways to detect whether your device is infected with Pegasus spyware are severely limited. Researchers at Amnesty International have released a toolkit that can help users scan their own phones.

Briefly known as the Mobile Verification Toolkit or MVT, this toolkit can detect partial traces of Pegasus spyware on iPhone and Android. MVT does this by taking a full backup of the device in question and then scans it for any compromise (IOC) indicators used by NOS to deliver Pegasus. After scanning the backup file, MVT will output several files and specify whether any of them have detected the Pegasus mark.

Toolkit scans Android phones using a similar method. MVT will scan the backup of the Android device for text messages with links used by the company behind the Pegasus NSO.

Now, using MVT is a complex method that is best suited for users who know how to use file structures and command terminals. If you think you've finished this task, you can go ahead and download the Mobile Verification Toolschit files from Github. However, be aware that you will also need the amnesty agreement indicators discussed above, which you can get from the attached link. Examine the MVT documentation to get a better idea of ​​how to proceed with the process


How to get rid of Pegasus spyware?

You can't, at least not completely. From what we know about Pegasus spyware, from now on, it is impossible to erase every trace of it from your phone. If you think your device has been compromised, we recommend a factory reset to delete all your existing data. However, be aware that even doing it may not completely get rid of this nasty spyware.

From the opinions of multiple security experts and the available information, the only way to completely rid yourself of Pegasus spyware is to get a new phone by discarding the infected phone. Also, make sure that all the apps on the new phone are up to date and that you have changed the passwords for all the cloud storage accounts you own. We find it tedious, but unfortunately, you just can't get rid of this spyware completely.


How can I protect myself from this spyware?

There are several good practices you can follow to stay safe from Pegasus or other malicious software.

1. Keep your phone and apps up to date

Be sure to upgrade your smartphone's operating system to the latest version. We say this because companies roll out regular security updates to patch various bugs and zero-day shows.

In addition, make sure that all the apps on your Android and iOS devices are regularly updated to the latest version to ensure your best protection. Also, be aware of these dangerous Android apps that you should never install.


2. Use antimalware / antivirus software

Antimalware is a program that helps fight various types of malware and other malicious programs across the Internet. Antimalware is related to the most common malware, including viruses, as well as complex issues such as rootkits, keyloggers, and certain types of spyware.


Although we suspect that antimalware will be able to detect and remove Pegasus spyware, for now, installing it is still a good practice. Check out these best antivirus apps for Android. IPhone users also need to be careful and learn how to keep iPhone malware free.


3. Beware of unknown links

As we have already discussed above, one of the main ways Pegasus can find your phone is through a link to a compromised website. Therefore, always make sure that you trust the website before you click. If a friend has sent it, it's best to ask them where they've got it


4. Monitor application permissions

While you may not see Pegasus spyware hanging just like any app, it can be embedded in WhatsApp, Mail, Instagram and more or any app. So make sure you keep an eye on the permissions that an application is using.


Both Android and iOS devices now show privacy indicators to let you know if an application is accessing microphone and camera permissions. It can tell you when an application does not use permissions. If you don't use the latest version of Android, you can get the Android 12 Privacy Dashboard or the Access Dots app to bring similar functionality to your old Android device.


Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q)


1. Can a VPN (Virtual Private Network) protect me from Pegasus spyware?

A: Unfortunately, it can't. Pegasus spyware is not limited to any specific geo-location parameters and instead relies on being embedded in the phone. Considering where you changed your VPN, your phone's data is still prone to be copied by Pegasus. But you can practice proper online security by looking at which websites you visit.


2) Turning off my phone will stop the Pegasus attack?

Answer: The answer is no. It won't. For this particular method to work, you need to know when the Pegasus spyware will enter the files on your phone. Currently, there is no software or tool that acts as a firewall for Pegasus. So, there is no way for you to know when to turn off your phone. Furthermore, the data transmission rate of Pegasus spyware is not known. So, all your data can be copied before the spyware gets a chance to learn here.


3. Should I change my phone number to be sure?

A: If you strongly believe that you were targeted by Pegasus spyware, then yes, you can go ahead and change your phone number. However, it will not help to remove the spyware. So since the spyware is usually inside the device you are sure to get a new smartphone if you get a new number.


4. Why doesn't WhatsApp shut down Pegasus?

A: This is because messengers like WhatsApp provide end-to-end encryption, which is focused on encrypting messages after you leave your friend's device and land on your phone. However, Pegasus spyware focuses on an endpoint attack that starts stealing your personal data after it gets on your phone. So, imagine someone leaning on your shoulder to read your messages. Pegasus does this but in a more subtle and larger size.


5. What exactly did Pegasus spyware create?

Answer. The organization behind Pegasus Spyware is a private company called NSO Group. Israel-based, the company is a leading manufacturer of spyware. The NSO Group was founded in 2010 and Pegasus Spyware is the company's flagship product.

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