Apple sues company known for hacking iPhones on behalf of governments
Summary
In federal court on Tuesday, Apple sued NSO Group, an Israeli firm that sells software to government agencies and law enforcement that allows them to hack iPhones and read the data on them, including messages and other communications. Apple also said on Tuesday it has patched the flaws that enabled the NSO Group software to access private data on iPhones with what are "zero-click" attacks where the malware is delivered through a text message and leaves little trace of infection. Then, the Pegasuss users can remotely surveil the iPhone owners activities, including by accessing the devices microphone and camera, and collect emails, text messages, and browsing history, Apple alleged in its lawsuit. Earlier this year, Amnesty International said that it found evidence of a hacked iPhone 12 and had obtained a leaked list of 50,000 phone numbers targeted by NSO Group software. NSO Group software is alleged to have been used to monitor relatives and people close to Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist who was killed in Turkey by assassins working on behalf of Saudi Arabia.
