How Pegasus Took Spyware’s Potency to a New Level

Spyware is used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to track criminals and terrorists. In the hands of repressive governments, it can be a tool used against enemies. Human rights groups accuse Israeli software maker NSO Group Ltd. and its Pegasus technology of enabling some governments to snoop on journalists, activists and business executives. While the company says it has controls in place to minimize such misuse, it was among those singled out in November as part of a U.S. government effort to combat cyber threats.

A subset of malware -- the name given broadly to software that harms unsuspecting users -- spyware is designed to extract information such as internet browsing history or private communications from devices without the user’s knowledge or consent. In its most sophisticated form, spyware can extract emails, phone calls and text messages. Some spyware is so advanced that it can turn on your phone’s microphone, secretly record and even take pictures with the camera.