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Huge news today about NSO - the Israeli surveillance spyware that was used to help Saudi Arabia track Jamal Khashoggi before he was murdered.
Washington Post, working with other groups, have released even more evidence confirming abuses - background in this thread:
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Huge news today about NSO - the Israeli surveillance spyware that was used to help Saudi Arabia track Jamal Khashoggi before he was murdered.
Washington Post, working with other groups, have released even more evidence confirming abuses - background in this thread:
/1
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1336060435619975168
For those familiar with NSO, much of this information will not be surprising, but is an extraordinary find, and a welcome confirmation.
For those unfamiliar with NSO, today’s news may be shocking.
A list of 50K targeted phones has been discovered.
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washingtonpost.com/investigations…
For those unfamiliar with NSO, today’s news may be shocking.
A list of 50K targeted phones has been discovered.
/2
washingtonpost.com/investigations…
It’s important to understand that this software is a product of Israeli intelligence members partnering with the private sector to produce spy tools for profit, and wide usage.
They have been entirely dishonest about how it is used. A recent PR release shows their spin.
They have been entirely dishonest about how it is used. A recent PR release shows their spin.
Read that PR release summary closely, and then compare that with the reality of what today’s report reveals.
(Full release is here, if interested: nsogroup.com/wp-content/upl… )
Interesting timing, that they released it three weeks before today’s damning report 👇 was published:
(Full release is here, if interested: nsogroup.com/wp-content/upl… )
Interesting timing, that they released it three weeks before today’s damning report 👇 was published:
At first glance, “37 smartphones” seems insignificant.
But it’s important to clarify that this is not 37 out of 50,000.
This is 37 out of only 67 that they were able to inspect - and some of those 67 were not really viable candidates.
This is a very high percentage.
But it’s important to clarify that this is not 37 out of 50,000.
This is 37 out of only 67 that they were able to inspect - and some of those 67 were not really viable candidates.
This is a very high percentage.
We don’t know where the list came from, but forensic data appears to show that each of these phones were targeted very close to the time they were added to the list - in some cases within seconds (automation?).
Again, contrast their statements with the reality of the situation:
Again, contrast their statements with the reality of the situation:
So what exactly does NSO’s Pegasus spyware do?
It is a military grade hacking tool.
It allows these governments full access to your phone and everything on it - and you don’t even have to click on anything to be infected. Simply receive a text message.
theverge.com/2020/12/21/221…
It is a military grade hacking tool.
It allows these governments full access to your phone and everything on it - and you don’t even have to click on anything to be infected. Simply receive a text message.
theverge.com/2020/12/21/221…
Israeli Intel officials joined the private sector and created this hacking toolset.
The Israeli government licenses them to export it to other countries.
And NSO licenses the software to those governments.
But this obscures the fact that the govt still has input on sales.
The Israeli government licenses them to export it to other countries.
And NSO licenses the software to those governments.
But this obscures the fact that the govt still has input on sales.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1416574029482270722
It is also a mistake to believe that NSO is the only Israeli company that is exporting its military grade hacking and surveillance tools to be used by other governments around the world.
We know of at least four others.
We know of at least four others.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1416576104786055168
NSO claims that they care about preventing human rights abuses, and that they thoroughly vet their client governments/licensees.
But the data published today confirms that they license this tech to countries whose governments are known human rights abusers.
But the data published today confirms that they license this tech to countries whose governments are known human rights abusers.
In fact, if NSO simply licenses their hacking software to governments, and does not use the software itself to target people, then why were researchers who criticized NSO, and who directly challenged them about abuses, themselves hacked shortly afterward?
This is part of a much larger story.
It is a story about the growing use of private companies to carry out spycraft and espionage against opponents - both political (for governments) and personal (for the wealthy and connected).
Harvey Weinstein used one against his victims.
It is a story about the growing use of private companies to carry out spycraft and espionage against opponents - both political (for governments) and personal (for the wealthy and connected).
Harvey Weinstein used one against his victims.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1375854851565907973
Erik Prince created his own, so the GOP could infiltrate their political opponents and carry out espionage activities against them, along with rooting out and purging our government of people who weren’t loyal to the leader and their “movement.”
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1393006807367356418
NSO themselves tried to market their hacking and surveillance software to US Police Departments.
Were any of them successful?
Were any of them successful?
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1336071383768420352
NSO has been used to target dozens of journalists, human rights activists, politicians (the Speaker of the Catalan Parliament was hacked), and even Lindsey Graham’s former campaign manager (yes, you read that correctly).
It is a tool to give authoritarians & crooks an advantage.
It is a tool to give authoritarians & crooks an advantage.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1336070600020791297
NSO/Pegasus, hacking/surveillance tools like it, and privatized spycraft & espionage groups with no government oversight, are a threat to democracy worldwide - and they need to be treated as such.
And their subterfuge to pass themselves off as anything else needs to be exposed.
And their subterfuge to pass themselves off as anything else needs to be exposed.
https://twitter.com/clearing_fog/status/1336072214127362051
A couple of additional notes.
After helping Bill Barr suppress the Mueller investigation, Rod Rosenstein went to work for NSO Group. He now represents them, as legal counsel.
He is also the one who decided to release the Strzok-Page texts to the press.
After helping Bill Barr suppress the Mueller investigation, Rod Rosenstein went to work for NSO Group. He now represents them, as legal counsel.
He is also the one who decided to release the Strzok-Page texts to the press.
https://twitter.com/joshgerstein/status/1218543199041384448
Jared Kushner’s former roommate, Adam Boehler (who was later appointed to be Director of the US Foreign Development Finance Corp, and likely played a role in selling off our only nuclear reactor manufacturer), was an operating officer for the company that owned NSO Group.
https://twitter.com/StacyJannis/status/1339600794241347584
Michael Flynn was an advisor to one of NSO’s companies as well, in 2016.
https://twitter.com/MsMariaT/status/937519839433826304
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