The surveillance software "Pegasus" from the Israeli company NSO Group is used worldwide to systematically monitor media representatives, human rights defenders and activists. This revealed a joint research project by Amnesty International and distributed a Pegasus Check tool to secure forensic evidence.
A joint research project by more than 80 media professionals in ten countries in cooperation with the NGO "Forbidden Stories" and Amnesty International reveals the machinations of the surveillance software "Pegasus".
Amnesty International offers Pegasus check tool
NSO Group's software has been used to facilitate massive human rights violations around the world. This revealed a large-scale investigation into the leak of 50.000 phone numbers of potential surveillance targets. Those spied on include heads of state, activists and journalists, including the family of Jamal Khashoggi.
Amnesty International offers a Pegasus check tool on the GitHub platform so that mobile users around the world can save forensic traces on their devices. The Forensic Tool MVT - Mobile Verification Toolkit checks whether the Pegasus software can be found deep in the system. On the page there is also a short guide to the tool, which is hardly usable for inexperienced users. IT specialists or administrators can cope with it.
According to experts, the actual spy software on mobile devices can be tracked down and removed with a simple antivirus app. Even free Android protection apps, like Avast, find the spyware. Laboratories such as AV-TEST regularly check the performance of security apps.
Pegasus project reveals widespread espionage
“The Pegasus Project exposes that NSO spyware is the tool of choice for repressive governments trying to silence journalists, target activists and stifle dissent, putting countless lives at risk,” said Agnès Callamard , International Secretary General of Amnesty International. The complete research and further information is available on the Amnesty International website.
More at Amnesty.de