A powerful, but not foolproof, tool for Israel against Hamas
Israel has long been a leader in cutting-edge defense technology, often boasting the most sophisticated surveillance software like Pegasus. However, the events of October 7 served as a stark reminder that even the most advanced technologies can be caught off guard.
The sudden strike
The intensity and scale of Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7 were truly astonishing. Hamas, which governs Gaza, launched a barrage of 5,000 rockets aimed at Israel.
This aerial assault was just one aspect of their multifaceted strategy. Simultaneously, militants breached Israeli borders at multiple points, employing tactics like paragliding to infiltrate deeper into Israeli territory.
The audacity of their surprise ground assault was evident as they moved through Israeli areas, resulting in a tragic loss of life and the abduction of numerous civilians.
The Ultimate spyware from the NSO Group failed
Created by the Israeli cyber-intelligence firm NSO Group, Pegasus is known as a cutting-edge spyware used by government agencies around the world. It is considered one of the most advanced cyber espionage tools that demonstrate a deep understanding of mobile software and human behavior. However, the pressing question remains: Why did surveillance agencies fail to get early warnings from the world’s most advanced phone surveillance software developed in Israel? There is no answer to this question.
How Pegasus work?
Pegasus is a surveillance software payload that can clandestinely infect and monitor smartphones without the owner’s awareness or consent. It is widely recognized as the pinnacle of phone surveillance technology. Once it infiltrates a device, Pegasus selects the appropriate tools tailored to the specific features of the phone. This can be likened to a Swiss Army knife, where it only deploys the tools necessary for the target device, avoiding unnecessary traces and enhancing its stealth.
What sets Pegasus apart
What really sets Pegasus apart is its zero-click attack capability. Unlike traditional spyware that usually relies on the target making a mistake such as clicking on a suspicious link, Pegasus can penetrate a device without requiring any user input.
To gain access, Pegasus exploits undisclosed vulnerabilities known as “zero-days” in the target’s software. The term “zero-day” implies that developers have “zero days” to fix a problem once they are aware of it. These vulnerabilities are of significant value to hackers and are often exploited in major cyberattacks.
Once inside, Pegasus displays extensive surveillance capabilities. In addition to accessing messages, emails, and phone calls, it can intelligently activate cameras, record conversations, and monitor the user’s real-time movements. All this collected data is encrypted and transmitted to the command and control server, where it undergoes analysis and storage.
Limitations of Pegasus spyware
Given all this, recent events in Israel are even more disturbing. With a tool as powerful as Pegasus at their disposal, we still need to understand how the significant mobilization by Hamas in Gaza has gone under the radar. It’s a question that only underscores the limitations of even the most advanced spyware.
The dark side of NSO Group’s Pegasus technology
NSO Group maintains that its technology is used exclusively for legitimate purposes, primarily in efforts to combat terrorism and criminal activity. However, numerous investigations have found compelling evidence that Pegasus has been used to monitor and target a wide range of individuals, including human rights activists, journalists, dissidents, lawyers, and political leaders in multiple countries. Many of these targeted individuals have experienced forms of torture, harassment, intimidation, detention, torture or killing.
The company posted this statement on its website. In part, it reads:
“We have the world’s most rigorous compliance and human rights programs that are based on the American values we deeply share, which already resulted in multiple terminations of contracts with government agencies that misused our products.”