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It’s 8:35 AM on a Monday morning and you know what time it is. Time to start your daily routine of shoveling through your email and what could possibly be considered PUMs (Potentially Unwanted Messages).
While skimming through the mass emails of bills, spam that didn’t get caught in the filter, and mail-order brides offers, have you ever had a creepy, eerie vibe that something is a bit off?
You look into the blackness of your webcam and have the feeling that something or someone is on the other side peering back at you.
Have you never had that experience? Okay, it’s just me then. Well, whether you had the feeling that someone was Sam Rockwelling you or not, let me make you aware of the possibility that something could be spying on your every move the next time you log in.
Director: Tom, shut up, we’re trying to take a picture.
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Watching Eyes & London
On the internet of yesteryear, before you had to watch your back online as you did on the dark cold mist-fog streets of London. Don’t ask me how I know, I’ve never been to London but that’s always the setup in movies dealing with the Great Brit.
Life was simple, you could log in, veg out, and log off without worry of passively downloading spyware leading you to feel like Sam Rockwell and asking every five minutes; “Who’s watching me?” What spyware could have you feeling like this? It’s Pegasus, the cute horse with wings based on Greek mythology that every daughter would beg their father to have, it seems harmless, but your safe space will result in a 404 error. This is an error code (for those who don’t know) results when a web page cannot be found.
Pegasus was created by an Israeli cyber-arms company NSO (Niv, Shalev, and Omri: the names of the company founders) Group. NSO created Pegasus to collect important and sensitive information mainly on cellphones but why stop there when the capability of installing it on other devices could be added?
The installation of Pegasus would be triggered via what’s called a “zero-click”- meaning the software could be downloaded without interaction of the individual. So to translate this, this is like the activation of a tripwire, or for all of you Yu-Gi-Oh card game players out there, you’ve activated my trap card and now I can watch every move you make like the Police from the 80s.
Eric: BUT YOU JUST SAID MY NAME!
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Followed Faithfully
Now that we have addressed your stalker, how or what is being done while you are unaware of the spyware present? Well, as mentioned earlier, once the tripwire or trap card is activated, this could happen in several ways such as opening an email or text or instant message and like your ideal date that’s withholding a slew of mental health issues, it’s in.
Pegasus is designed to read texts, and emails, monitor your application usage, collect user information (names and passwords), and gain access to your microphone and camera. You may be amazed and wondering, “Wow, what else can it do?” Well, to top all these features off, Pegasus can gain access to your GPS (Global Positioning System) and report back your whereabouts.
Earlier versions of Pegasus were installed on smartphones via weaknesses in commonly used apps or a cyber-attack technique called “spear-phishing”- this is sending a malicious link directly to an intended target for infection. Calling this spyware Pegasus seems like a one-off name, but it’s fitting as its ability to “fly through the air” from infected smartphone to smartphone and from infected device to device.
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Good Intentions, Bad Market
The NSO Group created Pegasus with the claim that it would be only for use by “authorized” governments in the pursuit of preventing and fighting terror and crime however, this is an opinion; if it’s on the web, the dark web has it, and interested parties have it as well. Again, money is the kind of thing that makes the world go round.
At this junction, you may be wondering; “What devices are on the menu for Pegasus to peg?” Pegasus can peg Android, Blackberry, and iOS. Yes, Apple users, your coveted ecosystem prized Steve Jobs possessions aren’t safe from infiltration by viruses.
However, ironically the device to first discover the Pegasus spyware was through a failed attempt on an iPhone of a human rights activist that led to an investigation on the spyware back in 2016.
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Active Protection
Right now, you’re probably wondering,” How can I detect or prevent this spyware from tracking me?” In most cases you would have some tell-tale signs that you may have an infection on your device however, this is not the case with Pegasus.
Though it may seem bleak, there are actions you can take to ensure you, your information, and your devices are safe. Following common best practices of keeping your OS (Operating System) up to date, not downloading any suspicious files from unknown sources, and not clicking on any links sent from someone you trust unless you’ve verified with them that they sent it.
Friendly confirmation can stop friendly fire.
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