Security News > 2024 > January > US judge rejects spyware slinger NSO's attempt to bin Apple lawsuit

A US court has rejected spyware vendor NSO Group's motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Apple that alleges the developer violated computer fraud and other laws by infecting customers' iDevices with its surveillance software.

Apple sued NSO, developer of the notorious Pegasus spyware, back in November 2021 and asked the court to permanently ban NSO from using any Apple software, services, or devices.

Last March, NSO asked the court to toss Apple's lawsuit, arguing that Cupertino should be required to sue the developer in Israel, its home jurisdiction.

"A 'loss' is 'any reasonable cost to any victim, including the cost of responding to an offense, conducting a damage assessment, and restoring the data, program, system, or information to its condition prior to the offense, and any revenue lost, cost incurred, or other consequential damages incurred because of interruption of service' That is precisely the loss Apple has alleged here," the judge continued [PDF].

"The motion to dismiss is part of the legal process in this case," the NSO spokesperson told The Register.

Apple took the win, and a spokesperson told The Register that this lawsuit is just one of the ways the iGiant is fighting back against spyware vendors.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/01/24/us_judge_rejects_pegasus_spyware/