New Delhi: Pegasus spyware made by an Israeli firm is once again in the news. People in India last heard about this spyware in 2019, when some WhatsApp users received messages that Pegasus had hacked their phones. Many journalists and activists were among the victims of this spyware. Governments around the world use this spyware a lot. There are often reports that with the help of this many people’s phones were hacked. People are trying to know what it is and how it hacks people’s phones and WhatsApp.
What is Pegasus?
Pegasus is a spyware developed by the Israeli company NSO Group. It first made headlines in 2016, when an Arab activist received a suspicious message. Pegasus spyware is believed to have been targeting iPhone users. Apple then released an updated version of iOS that reportedly fixed security flaws that Pegasus was using to hack the phone. However, a year later experts said that this spyware could also affect Android phones.
Why is Pegasus in the headlines again?
This spyware has been called “the most sophisticated” phone hacking tool. It has been used many times. Significantly, the NSO Group has confirmed the existence of Pegasus. However, the Israeli company has also said that it only sells the equipment to governments and is not responsible for its misuse. The surprising thing is that after the phone is hacked with this spyware, the user does not even know. It can hack your device and get information about all apps including WhatsApp.
How can this affect your phone?
If your phone is attacked by this spyware, it can also access your end-to-end encrypted chats. According to research, Pegasus can view your messages, track your calls and even track users’ app activity. Apart from this, it can also affect your location and the data of the video camera.
How to avoid this spyware?
Although this spyware is quite sophisticated, many companies have put high level of security of apps and phones. If you use the latest version of apps on your iPhone or Android, your phone is less likely to get hacked. Keep checking the security of your social media accounts from time to time and take necessary steps. If you come across a suspicious message or link, don’t click on it.
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