Decoding Pegasus – Origin, 10 Key Facts, Description, Zero Click Exploit, Greek Mythology & Latest Updates

Introduction

Decoding Pegasus – Origin, Fact, Description, Zero Click Exploit, Greek Mythology & Latest Updates: In India, as well as world, Pegasus is trending. Recently, many Left-Wing  Journalists in India has got alarmed about Pegasus in their iPhone. This is why, again, the Pegasus is in news and people talking about its hazards and Uses of Pegasus. Not only this, people have many questions related to Pegasus such as, What is Pegasus? How to Detect Pegasus? What are Hazards of Pegasus, Facts about Pegasus, What us Zero Click Exploit? Pegasus spyware protection, How to detect pegasus spyware? Symptoms of pegasus spyware, How to get rid of pegasus spyware? and much more.

These all questions are needs to be answered in accepted ways. This is why through this blog, we will clear all your doubts related to Pegasus spyware. If you are also looking for answers of these questions, then this blog is for you.

So, let’s start-

What is Pegasus?

Pegasus is a spyware made by an Israeli company called NSO Group, starting in 2010. It secretly enters mobile phones to collect data and spy on users. NSO claims it’s for law enforcement to fight crime, but it’s controversial.

Pegasus can track location, read messages, and access sensitive information. It works on various phone types and is very costly. It got attention in 2016 when a human rights activist in the UAE found it. Governments worldwide, including authoritarian ones, use Pegasus.

Lawsuits and blacklisting have happened due to its misuse, raising concerns about privacy and digital security.

• Origin: Pegasus is spyware created by the Israeli company NSO Group, established in 2010.
• Owner: NSO Group claims ownership, marketing it to governments for law enforcement purposes.
• Release: It gained notoriety in 2016 when discovered by a UAE activist who received a suspicious text.
• Capabilities: Pegasus covertly infiltrates mobile phones, tracking locations, reading messages, and accessing sensitive data.
• Usage: Governments, both democratic and authoritarian, deploy Pegasus for surveillance, raising ethical concerns.
• Controversy: Pegasus faces legal action, with Facebook and Apple suing NSO Group, leading to blacklisting by the U.S. government.
• Global Impact: The Pegasus Project exposed its misuse, prompting widespread concern about privacy and digital security.

Why Pegasus is in News? – Latest Updates about Pegasus

Pegasus is again in news nowadays. There are multiple reasons for it. We have added those reasons below:

• Global Surveillance Scandal: Pegasus has sparked global headlines for its alleged role in a surveillance scandal, targeting individuals worldwide, including journalists and activists.
• India Incident: Recent reports in October 2023 revealed Pegasus’ use in India, with notable journalists like Siddharth Varadarajan and Anand Mangnale being targeted.
• Zero-Click Infiltration: The spyware’s ability to infiltrate devices without user interaction through “zero-click” methods has raised significant privacy concerns.
• Pegasus Project: Collaborative efforts by journalists worldwide, known as the Pegasus Project, exposed the extensive impact of Pegasus on individuals, contributing to ongoing news coverage.
• Legal Actions: Lawsuits by major tech companies like Facebook and Apple against NSO Group, coupled with the U.S. government’s blacklisting, add to the news coverage.
• Privacy and Ethical Debates: The revelations surrounding Pegasus fuel debates on the ethical implications of surveillance, prompting discussions on the delicate balance between security and privacy in the digital era.

Feel Free to get more information about Pegasus UPSC Prelims Topics on Pegasus UPSC

Are Journalists in India getting targeted & spied by Pegasus Spyware?

Yes, according to reports from The Washington Post and Amnesty International, Pegasus spyware has been alleged to target journalists in India.

The October 2023 revelations identified instances where journalists, including Siddharth Varadarajan of The Wire and Anand Mangnale, South Asia editor of the Organised Crime and Corruption Report Project (OCCRP), were reportedly subjected to Pegasus surveillance.

The spyware’s use in tracking and monitoring journalists has raised significant concerns about press freedom and the potential impact on investigative journalism in India. The controversy surrounding Pegasus continues to prompt discussions about privacy, digital security, and the ethical implications of such surveillance practices.

Source – The Hindu

What is a zero-click exploit?

A zero-click exploit is a method used by malicious software, such as spyware, to infiltrate a device without requiring any action or interaction from the device owner.

In the context of Pegasus spyware, a zero-click exploit allows the spyware to be installed on a mobile phone automatically and covertly, without the user having to click on a link, open a message, or perform any other action.

This makes the infiltration process discreet and challenging for the device owner to detect. Zero-click exploits are particularly sophisticated and pose a significant threat to digital security, as they can silently compromise devices, allowing unauthorized access and data collection without the user’s knowledge or consent.

We have listed the actions and their related reactions of Zero-Click Exploit-

1. Automatic Infiltration: Zero-click exploits enable the automatic and silent installation of malicious software without any user interaction.
2. No User Action Required: Unlike traditional malware that relies on users clicking links or opening attachments, zero-click exploits operate without any action from the device owner.
3. Covert Installation: This method allows spyware, like Pegasus, to discreetly infiltrate a device, leaving no apparent trace of its presence.
4. Enhanced Stealth: Zero-click exploits enhance the stealthiness of the infiltration process, making it difficult for users to detect any suspicious activity.
5. Pegasus Spyware: Pegasus utilizes a zero-click exploit to gain access to mobile phones, emphasizing its advanced and clandestine nature.
6. Automatic Payload Delivery: The exploit delivers the full spyware payload without requiring user initiation, ensuring comprehensive access to the device.
7. Message or Call Trigger: Pegasus can be activated through a message or call, even if the user deletes the message or ignores the call.
8. Broad Device Compatibility: Zero-click exploits work across various operating systems, allowing them to target a wide range of devices, including Android and iOS.
9. Increased Security Threat: The lack of user interaction increases the security threat posed by zero-click exploits, as users may remain unaware of the compromise.
10. Challenges in Detection: Due to their covert nature, zero-click exploits present challenges in detection, allowing malicious actors to exploit devices without raising suspicion.

Top 10 Facts about Pegasus

There are so many things we can add in the section of Facts about Pegasus. However, we have choose some of the best and top class facts about Pegasus:

Source – Wikipedia

Details About Pegasus

We have listed all the details about the Pegasus that are in Public Domain:

1. Origin and Developer: Pegasus is a spyware developed by the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group, founded in 2010.
2. Global Controversy: Pegasus has been at the center of a global controversy, with allegations of misuse for surveillance on politicians, journalists, activists, and more.
3. Stealthy Operation: Pegasus employs sophisticated “zero-click” methods, allowing it to infiltrate devices without any action from the device owner.
4. Cross-Platform Compatibility: The spyware is versatile, capable of targeting most major operating systems, including Android, iOS (Apple), BlackBerry, Windows Phone, and Symbian.
5. Extensive Capabilities: Once installed, Pegasus can monitor calls, capture text messages, track location, and collect various data, including passwords and photos.
6. High Cost: Pegasus is known for its high cost. In 2016, it was reported to cost over $650,000, with an additional $500,000 set-up fee, for the installation on 10 phones.
7. Widespread Deployment: While NSO Group keeps its client list confidential, reports suggest that Pegasus has been deployed in around 40 countries, with individuals in over 50 countries being targeted.
8. Legal Battles: NSO Group has faced legal actions, including lawsuits from major tech companies like Facebook and Apple, and its blacklisting by the U.S. government.
9. Ethical Concerns: Pegasus has raised significant ethical concerns, particularly regarding privacy violations and its potential use against human rights activists and journalists.
10. Pegasus Project: The collaborative investigative effort known as the Pegasus Project, involving journalists worldwide, has played a crucial role in uncovering and exposing the spyware’s alleged misuse on a global scale.

Uses of Pegasus

Whenever use the term ‘Uses’, then we means to the positive application of something. Here we have added some of the great and positive application of Pegasus

1. Counterterrorism Focus: Pegasus is advertised by NSO Group as a tool intended for use by government security and law enforcement agencies to counter terrorism.
2. Law Enforcement Support: The spyware is marketed to provide advanced surveillance capabilities to support law enforcement in criminal investigations.
3. Emergency Response Aid: Pegasus is purportedly designed to assist in rescue operations, enhancing the efficiency of government agencies during emergencies.
4. Surveillance of Criminals: NSO Group claims Pegasus is meant to target and monitor individuals involved in major crimes, such as money laundering, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
5. Government Security: The spyware is intended for use by governments to enhance their security measures and intelligence gathering.
6. Political Stability: NSO Group suggests that Pegasus could contribute to maintaining political stability by providing governments with tools to monitor potential threats.
7. Authorized State Use: The intended use of Pegasus is strictly for authorized state entities, emphasizing its lawful deployment by government agencies.
8. Investigative Support: Pegasus is positioned as a tool to aid in complex investigations by providing comprehensive surveillance capabilities.
9. National Security: NSO Group highlights the role of Pegasus in safeguarding national security interests by equipping governments with advanced cyber-intelligence tools.
10. Human Rights Protections: While NSO Group claims Pegasus is designed to respect human rights, concerns and controversies have emerged regarding its alleged misuse for unauthorized surveillance, raising ethical questions.

Symptoms of Pegasus – How to Detect Pegasus?

This question is really a shit. If a Spyware company is asking to pay over $650,000, with an additional $500,000 set-up fee, for the installation on 10 phones, then they must have ensured that there would be no symptoms of this spyware.

However, at the end of the day, its an spyware and there are some symptoms or signs of spyware, such as:

Detecting Pegasus spyware can be challenging because it is designed to operate covertly without leaving obvious traces. However, certain signs and symptoms may indicate a potential infection. Keep in mind that these indicators do not guarantee the presence of Pegasus but may warrant further investigation.

1. Unusual Battery Drain

Pegasus, like other spyware, can consume a significant amount of device resources, leading to accelerated battery depletion.

2. Unusual Data Usage

Increased data usage may be a sign of spyware activity, as Pegasus sends captured information to remote servers.

3. Device Sluggishness

Spyware can impact device performance, causing it to slow down or become unresponsive at times.

4. Unusual Heat Emission

Pegasus may run in the background, causing the device to generate more heat than usual.

5. Unexpected Reboots

Spyware infections can lead to unexpected reboots or crashes on the device.

6. Unusual Pop-Ups or Messages

Pegasus may use deceptive tactics, such as disguised messages or pop-ups, to trick users into interacting with malicious content.

7. Unexplained Background Noises

In some cases, spyware may activate the device’s microphone, leading to unexplained background noises during calls.

8. Increased Network Activity

Monitoring network activity can reveal unusual connections or data transmissions, which may be indicative of spyware.

9. Unexpected Permissions

Spyware may request and obtain unnecessary permissions, which can be identified by reviewing the app’s permissions in device settings.

10. Security Software Alerts

Reliable antivirus or anti-spyware apps may detect and alert users about potential threats, including Pegasus.

–Out of the Context–

Pegasus in Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, Pegasus is a winged horse that holds a significant place in various tales. Pegasus is said to have emerged from the blood of the Gorgon Medusa after she was slain by the hero Perseus. Here are some key aspects of Pegasus’s role in Greek mythology:

• Birth: Pegasus was born when the hero Perseus beheaded the Gorgon Medusa, and the winged horse sprang from her blood.
• Association with the Muses: Pegasus is often linked with the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences. Legend has it that Pegasus struck the earth with his hooves, creating the Hippocrene, a fountain on Mount Helicon, a source of poetic inspiration.
• Capture by Bellerophon: In another well-known myth, Bellerophon, a mortal hero, captured and tamed Pegasus with the help of a golden bridle provided by the goddess Athena. Together, they faced various challenges, including the slaying of the Chimera.
• Ascent to Mount Olympus: After fulfilling his heroic deeds, Pegasus ascended to Mount Olympus, the realm of the gods. Zeus, the king of the gods, honored Pegasus by transforming him into a constellation, forever immortalizing the winged horse in the night sky.

Pegasus symbolizes inspiration, poetry, and the connection between the mortal and divine realms in Greek mythology. The creature’s association with heroes and the Muses highlights its mythical role as a source of artistic and intellectual inspiration.

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