Security News > 2022 > July > We're likely only seeing 'the tip of the iceberg' of Pegasus spyware use against the US

During an open House Intelligence Committee hearing on Wednesday, US lawmakers heard testimony from Citizen Lab senior researcher John Scott-Railton; Shane Huntley, who leads Google's Threat Analysis Group; and Carine Kanimba, whose father was the inspiration for Hotel Rwanda and who was, herself, targeted by Pegasus spyware.

Earlier this year, European lawmakers opened an inquiry into spyware in general, and Pegasus more specifically, after the malware was reportedly found on cellphones associated with the UK and Spanish prime ministers, Spain's defense minister, and dozens of Catalan politicians and members of civil society groups.

Schiff called NSO's software and similar eavesdropping tools "a threat to Americans," and pointed to news reports from last year about cellphones belonging to US diplomats in Uganda being compromised by Pegasus.

Google's Threat Analysis Group tracks more than 30 firms that sell exploits or surveillance capabilities to government-backed groups, Huntley told the committee.

Huntley applauded US sanctions against NSO Group, and called for a full ban on federal procurement of commercial spyware technologies.

He also urged lawmakers to "Contemplate imposing further sanctions to limit spyware vendors' ability to operate in the US and receive US investment," and lead diplomatic efforts to work with governments that harbor spyware vendors and criminals using these tools.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/07/27/us_congress_spyware_debate/