Major US phones were hijacked by NSO Group spy software: Reuters | Cybersecurity issues

The phones of at least nine people working in the US State Department were stolen by NSO Group spy software, the media said.

The phones of at least nine people working in the US State Department were stolen using Israeli spy software NSO Group, Reuters news agency reported, citing four sources who were unaware of the incident.

The robbery involved Apple-made iPhones of US officials living in Uganda or working in the country, Reuters reported on Friday.

The news agency said it could not identify the cause of the cybercrime.

The Israeli company sparked outrage earlier this year investigated and international media outlets have revealed that its Pegasus spy programs were used by security forces and governmental authorities against journalists and freedom fighters in several countries.

The NSO claims to be working with law enforcement agencies to track down terrorists and “terrorists”.

But Apple filed a lawsuit against an Israeli company last month, accusing the company of using Pegasus spy software to hack users’ devices. Apple also released a bug fix that was used by spyware software.

The NSO Group said in a statement to Reuters on Thursday that it had no indication that its equipment had been used but suspended the relevant accounts and investigated based on what the media had asked.

“If our investigation proves that this was indeed the case with NSO weapons, the client will be completely eliminated and the rules will be enforced,” said an NSO spokesman, adding that the company “will cooperate with all government authorities and provide all information. We will have it.”

The media report comes in the wake of US President Joe Biden’s inauguration in early November. he was punished at the NSO Group, among other companies, accusing it of supporting “international oppression”.

In July, several Democratic Members of Congress requested an inquiry into reports that US citizens, including diplomats and aid workers, were involved in the NSO operation. Legislators have urged Biden officials to “determine if the American national security has been compromised”.

The NSO says its weapons will not match American phone numbers from country number +1, but Apple also said in its complaint last month that US citizens’ phones, “could cross international borders”, were stolen.

An Israeli company is facing charges from an instant messaging app, WhatsApp. and Meta, formerly known as Facebook Inc.

A US Court of Appeals ruled last month that WhatsApp should continue its 2019 lawsuit against the NSO, rejecting the company’s efforts to claim security because its customers are government agencies.