Pegasus: The Spyware That Shook Nations

In 2013, when Edward Snowden (Former C.I.A.) revealed, spying of U.S. citizens by their Govt., raised a heating debate on privacy. It made people rethink
the way they use technology.

But now, the time has taken its toll, and the People who started it all became victims themselves. All of it, because of one word, “Pegasus”. So, buckle up and get ready to discover what the world’s supreme spyware can do. Moreover, how spyware is a genuine and devastating threat to your personal and professional life. And steps on how you can secure your devices from spyware.

What’s the Pegasus Fuzz and Why Now?

Pegasus is a Spyware. Now, what is spyware? Spyware is a malicious/malware software or program designed to steal information from the victim’s device and sends it to the attacker. It can steal any kind of data present on the device and can remote access your device to manipulate data. And Pegasus is the mightiest of them all.

What makes Pegasus supreme is the potential to install on victim’s device on air. Without any physical contact, it can leverage android and iOS vulnerabilities with just a message or call.

Now the critical question. Is spyware a virus? Yes, it is. any malware installed on your device without your concern is a virus.

Pegasus Origin: Israel’s Cyber-arms firm, NSO group developed Pegasus Spyware to covertly spy on terrorists and criminals. There is no exact record of when it was discovered or deployed. The first reported case was in 2016, when Human Rights activist, Ahmed Mansoor’s smartphone
was probed by The Citizen Lab, Canada.

Pegasus Storm: Since then, The Citizen lab has published several reports on its usage, threats, and privacy concerns. Though NSO group claims to sell it to only running governments in different nations, to strengthen Nation’s security. But the storm started when an international investigative journalism effort revealed a report, “The Pegasus Project” in 2021. The report highlights that it is being used by 45 countries around the world. With people under surveillance like human rights activists, journalists, politicians, and bureaucrats.

This report causes hindrance all over the world. This chaos raised many questions regarding one’s privacy like:

How Devastating Can Spyware Be?

The answer to this lies in the answer to these simple questions.

Well, the answer to all these questions is a big Yes. Spyware is such powerful software that can exploit your device in many unimaginable ways.

You may be relaxed that Pegasus can’t hurt me. Because my business is too small or too big to be attacked by such spyware. But the reality is different.

Since Pegasus’s identity became public, certain software popped up on the internet claiming to offer the same services. And they can be obtained by anyone without any restrictions. It can cause disastrous impacts on businesses and the personal lives of people.

Imagine your personal and professional lives getting watched over by someone without your consent. And one day that sensitive information was used against yourself to either blackmail or bring your business down. The thought of it gives the goosebumps.

You cannot do anything once your data is compromised. But you can take the necessary measures to reduce this risk to a minimum.

The below guide will help you in securing your digital environment against Spywares.

Common Signs to identify that your device has spyware:

It’s not impossible to find the signs of spyware on your device. Many clues can help you detect spyware. Never ignore these small details if you see one.

If you see these signs in your device, then the next step is to Act. So, act fast and safeguard it.

Spyware Safety Guide: Act and Protect

Protecting your device is not something only an expert can do. Every large thing has a small beginning. It’s the basic human errors that lead to enormous disasters. But they can be easily taken care of. For starters here are few tips that you can adopt to keep it safe and simple.

Protect Your Phone Against Spyware:

Every device needs specific measures to keep them secure. Securing your phone is different from protecting your computer. To keep your phone safe, you can adopt these safety measures as a habit.

Protect Your Computer/Laptop Against Spyware:

There is a reason that a PC is called Personal Computer. Because it contains personal data that you never want to be compromised. The information stored on your PC is delicate and important. Its Security must the top priority above all.

Taking care of these small details can save you from a major disaster.

Take away:

Spywares are not going anywhere soon. But every coin has two faces. As cyber-attacks are evolving. So are the cybersecurity techniques. And a little awareness can avoid any major disaster to occur. It’s never too late to take crucial measures.