Once upon a time (actually, earlier this year), the Israeli hacker agency NSO Group developed a malware called Pegasus. This nefarious malware might enter mobile phones like a quiet ninja, taking personal information without anyone's knowledge. Sounds scary, right? Well, don't fret just yet!
Then, in an audacious move, President Biden said, "Enough! "No more fun with spyware for government agencies!" He issued an executive order prohibiting commercial spyware such as Pegasus. It was like denying chocolates to secret agent children.
But keep your tinfoil hats handy because the narrative doesn't end there. According to the New York Times, the FBI decided to have some fun with NSO Group's malware. They said they were duped by a shady contractor named Riva Networks. They didn't say anything about employing NSO's Landmark tracking software.
Why, you could ask? They were on a quest to find the elusive drug cartels in Mexico. As a result, they recruited Riva Networks to assist them with their espionage mission. They had no idea Riva had a hidden weapon - the infamous Landmark malware.
Even after the presidential order was passed, the FBI continued playing cat and mouse with the software, treating Landmark like the latest gizmo from Q Branch. It was all hush-hush until late April when the FBI finally realized they had been played.
The FBI's director, Christopher A. Wray, was not pleased with the spyware debacle. He instantly canceled the contract, thereby ending the espionage game.
This is when things become very interesting. The FBI has already experimented with NSO Group's malware. They were tempted to employ Pegasus for domestic criminal investigations prior to the prohibition. It's as though they couldn't resist the draw of spy gadgets.
However, NSO Group and its spyware have a bad reputation. They've been accused all across the world of facilitating government spying and stifling political opposition. It's like a James Bond villain scheme in real life!
And that's not all! Remember those iPhones belonging to US State Department employees?
Yeah, they were spied on, too, thanks to NSO's spyware. They appear to have targeted everyone from government officials to journalists, businesspeople, activists, and even diplomatic employees. What a case of rogue espionage!
Apple, on the other hand, did not take this lying down. They filed a complaint against NSO Group for spying on their consumers. It's like a battle between two tech titans, with malware caught in the crossfire.
So, what's the moral of this spy story? Unregulated malware appears to be becoming a real-life boogeyman. It's like a never-ending game of hide and seek with governments and agencies experimenting with these lethal toys, with innocent people caught in the crossfire.
For now, we'll have to keep our eyes peeled for more spyware shenanigans. As the old saying goes, "Trust no one and keep your phone close, but your spyware closer!" And remember, even in the age of technology, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Keep an eye out there!
Read next: 95% of People Are Concerned About Medical Data Leaks
Then, in an audacious move, President Biden said, "Enough! "No more fun with spyware for government agencies!" He issued an executive order prohibiting commercial spyware such as Pegasus. It was like denying chocolates to secret agent children.
But keep your tinfoil hats handy because the narrative doesn't end there. According to the New York Times, the FBI decided to have some fun with NSO Group's malware. They said they were duped by a shady contractor named Riva Networks. They didn't say anything about employing NSO's Landmark tracking software.
Why, you could ask? They were on a quest to find the elusive drug cartels in Mexico. As a result, they recruited Riva Networks to assist them with their espionage mission. They had no idea Riva had a hidden weapon - the infamous Landmark malware.
Even after the presidential order was passed, the FBI continued playing cat and mouse with the software, treating Landmark like the latest gizmo from Q Branch. It was all hush-hush until late April when the FBI finally realized they had been played.
The FBI's director, Christopher A. Wray, was not pleased with the spyware debacle. He instantly canceled the contract, thereby ending the espionage game.
This is when things become very interesting. The FBI has already experimented with NSO Group's malware. They were tempted to employ Pegasus for domestic criminal investigations prior to the prohibition. It's as though they couldn't resist the draw of spy gadgets.
However, NSO Group and its spyware have a bad reputation. They've been accused all across the world of facilitating government spying and stifling political opposition. It's like a James Bond villain scheme in real life!
And that's not all! Remember those iPhones belonging to US State Department employees?
Yeah, they were spied on, too, thanks to NSO's spyware. They appear to have targeted everyone from government officials to journalists, businesspeople, activists, and even diplomatic employees. What a case of rogue espionage!
Apple, on the other hand, did not take this lying down. They filed a complaint against NSO Group for spying on their consumers. It's like a battle between two tech titans, with malware caught in the crossfire.
So, what's the moral of this spy story? Unregulated malware appears to be becoming a real-life boogeyman. It's like a never-ending game of hide and seek with governments and agencies experimenting with these lethal toys, with innocent people caught in the crossfire.
For now, we'll have to keep our eyes peeled for more spyware shenanigans. As the old saying goes, "Trust no one and keep your phone close, but your spyware closer!" And remember, even in the age of technology, it is always better to be safe than sorry. Keep an eye out there!
Read next: 95% of People Are Concerned About Medical Data Leaks
