India 2nd in Pegasus Spy Targets, Meta Court Filing Shows
A recent court filing by Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has revealed that India was the second most targeted country in the Pegasus spyware attack. The Israeli NSO Group allegedly exploited a WhatsApp flaw in 2019 to install spyware on the phones of over 100 Indian users. This shocking revelation has raised serious concerns about the privacy and security of Indian citizens.
According to the court filing, Mexico topped the list of countries targeted by the Pegasus spyware, followed by India, Bahrain, and Morocco. The filing was made as part of a lawsuit filed by Meta against the NSO Group, which is accused of using the WhatsApp flaw to infect phones with the Pegasus spyware.
The Pegasus spyware is a powerful tool that can steal sensitive information from a user’s phone, including messages, emails, and contacts. It can also activate a phone’s camera and microphone without the user’s knowledge, allowing the attacker to snoop on private conversations.
The NSO Group is a private Israeli company that is known for selling its spyware to government agencies around the world. However, the company’s activities have been shrouded in secrecy, and many have accused it of using its technology to spy on political dissidents, human rights activists, and other individuals who are critical of government policies.
The lawsuit filed by Meta is significant because it marks the first time that a tech company has taken legal action against a private spyware vendor. In the past, tech companies have been reluctant to take on spyware vendors, citing concerns about the legal and political implications of doing so.
The Pegasus spyware attack on Indian WhatsApp users is just the latest in a series of high-profile cyber attacks that have targeted the country’s citizens. In 2020, it was reported that the Indian government had hacked into the phones of several prominent journalists and activists using Pegasus spyware.
The Indian government has denied any involvement in the hacking incident, but many have accused it of using the Pegasus spyware to spy on its political opponents and critics. The incident has raised serious concerns about the government’s commitment to protecting the privacy and security of its citizens.
The revelation that India was the second most targeted country in the Pegasus spyware attack has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater action to be taken to protect the country’s citizens from cyber attacks. Many have called on the government to take legal action against the NSO Group and to hold it accountable for its actions.
The incident has also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in the way that spyware is used. Many have argued that the use of spyware should be strictly regulated and that governments and private companies should be held accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the recent court filing by Meta reveals that India was the second most targeted country in the Pegasus spyware attack. The incident has raised serious concerns about the privacy and security of Indian citizens and has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater action to be taken to protect the country’s citizens from cyber attacks.
