Security News > 2021 > November > Apple sues 'amoral 21st century mercenaries' NSO for infecting iPhones with Pegasus spyware

Apple today sued NSO Group, which sells spyware to governments and other organizations, for infecting and snooping on people's iPhones.

In a strongly worded filing [PDF] Apple described NSO as "Amoral 21st century mercenaries who have created highly sophisticated cyber-surveillance machinery that invites routine and flagrant abuse." Cupertino wants damages and a ban on NSO interacting or interfering any further with Apple services and products.

The Israeli developer's Pegasus spyware is repeatedly used by authoritarian and other hard-line states to infiltrate the phones of journalists, dissidents, academics, activists, government officials, and American citizens to track their every waking move, Apple said.

Apple cited this month's sanctioning of four spyware vendors, including NSO, by the US Department of Commerce, as well as other crackdowns by Uncle Sam, to support its position that Pegasus is used to commit human-rights abuses.

Apple said NSO operatives set up 100 Apple ID accounts that were used to send "Abusive data" - likely messages with a malicious code payload - to their selected victims.

Any monies obtained from NSO will be donated to Citizen Lab, Amnesty Tech, and other non-profits that investigate spyware; Apple has pledged an additional $10m to spur efforts in the field.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/11/23/apple_nso_group/