The Pegasus Spyware - A project that is taking democracy down

Pegasus Spyware was created by the NSO organization group of Israel. It first came into news in 2016. This Pegasus Spyware was created to help the government organizations to spy on the dark sides of the internet such as the activities of the hackers and the terrorist, all around the world.

NSO is an Israeli cyber-organization firm, which develops spywares for the governments.

Pegasus spyware can easily get access and exploit any platforms such as IOS and Android, and also their recent versions.

Once the Pegasus Spyware gets access to the smartphone it will get access to all its private components such as WhatsApp text conversations, location, call data, messages and passwords. It can also access the microphone and camera.

This project failed in August 2016. An investigation was done against it which revealed all the abilities and policies of the Pegasus spyware.

On August 2020, NSO group sold this Pegasus project to UAE and other Gulf-States for keeping eyes on the Anti-Regime activities such as Media, Journalist and other political leaders from rival parties.

But, In July 2021, it was revealed that the Pegasus spyware can even exploit all the modern iOS versions through a Zero-click process. The Pegasus spyware works with a Zero-click process. The spyware can attack the smartphone with just one message or even with a call !!

Not only iOS, even Pegasus can attack and exploit all the modern versions of Android as well.

Also, the spyware is a self-destructive spyware. After the work is done, this spyware self-destructs or even when it cannot interact or exchange with the main control center it will kill itself.

Now, Let's talk about the uses of Spywares. Why such spywares are used?

NSO claims that they had created Pegasus for the government so that they can keep records on the activities of terrorist and criminals. Even some of the governments has done really really great job and had stopped crimes.

But, Some are just using this spyware to take away some journalist and medias' freedom. They are using this spyware to look after the rival organizations such as Journalist and Media who oppose the decisions of the government. 

In 2019, a Law-Suit was filed against Pegasus for spying in the WhatsApp conversations of some Journalist and other people. But the NSO had stated against this that they had only provided this spyware to only "Authorized Governmental Organizations" to fight against terror and crimes.

Since Pegasus spyware is a Zero-Click attack and no action has to be initiated from the user's side, so no precaution can be taken against this type of attack.

These spywares can even get access to the User's phone with just a missed call or a text message.