Security News > 2021 > July > Israeli Government Agencies Visit NSO Group Offices
Authorities from multiple agencies of the Israeli government paid a visit the offices of the NSO Group as part of a new investigation into claims that the secretive firm is selling its spyware to threat actors for targeted attacks, according to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Specifically, Israeli agents visited NSO Group's offices in Herzliya, near the city of Tel Aviv, according to a post by analyst firm Recorded Future's The Record.
NSO Group is working "In full transparency" with authorities, the firm told The Record.
According to Israeli news outlet Calcalist, the Israeli government's actions are the start of an effort to get to the bottom of a report called the Pegasus Project that examined leaked data from the NSO Group and spurred an international incident that's rapidly escalating.
The report in the Guardian newspaper revealed a cache of more than 50,000 mobile phone numbers worldwide that the firm was storing and alleged that Pegasus malware is being used to target activists, journalists, business executives and politicians on a widespread level, using a variety of exploits - including a zero-click zero-day in Apple's iOS. Seventeen media organizations participated in the investigative effort, which also accused NSO Group of selling Pegasus to unidentified third-parties, including governments.
Still, while many criticized NSO Group for its activities, some see the report and subsequent investigation as an effort to damage the reputation of the Israeli cyber industry at a time when Israel has come under fire internationally for its continued military actions against the Palestinian state.