PEGASUS - DEFENCE AND
SECURITY
News: Apple issues two fresh
Pegasus-like spyware alerts in India
What's in the news?
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Several prominent opposition leaders recently
reported receiving "threat notifications" from Apple regarding a
potential state-sponsored spyware attack on their iPhones.
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This incident has drawn parallels with the Pegasus
Spyware Case, which targeted individuals globally, including in India.
Pegasus Spyware:
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Pegasus, like its name suggests, is a spyware
designed to surveil individuals through their smartphones.
Developed by - Israel
Features:
1. Covert Installation:
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It infiltrates a target's device by enticing them
to click on an exploit link, installing
the malware without their knowledge or consent.
2. Comprehensive Access:
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Once installed, Pegasus grants the attacker
complete control over the victim's phone, enabling eavesdropping, data
retrieval, and even activation of the camera and microphone.
Go back to basics:
Pegasus Spyware Case:
1. Global Revelation:
●
In July 2021, a collaborative global investigative
project uncovered the use of Pegasus spyware, developed by NSO Group, an
Israeli cybersecurity company, to target mobile phones worldwide, including
India.
2. Government Denials:
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The Indian government denied the allegations and
accused the opposition of undermining national security but did not explicitly
deny using Pegasus.
3. Supreme Court's
Involvement:
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On October 27, 2021, the Supreme Court appointed an
Expert Committee headed by Justice R V Raveendran to investigate the
allegations, considering their public importance and potential violation of
citizens' fundamental rights.
4. Cyber Terrorism:
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This intrusion constitutes a cyber-terrorism
attempt and calls for the application of Section 66(F) of the Information
Technology Act 2008 (IT Act) to deal with the perpetrators.