NSO Group's software has been used to track prominent people for years now, from journalists, government officials, and human rights activists.
That is despite the firm's assurances that it only sells its spyware to trusted companies, government agencies, and law enforcement agencies that use it to help catch cybercriminals.
Apple's Update Blocks Pegasus
The spyware called Pegasus was developed by NSO Group, and it is pretty complex. It operates by taking advantage of zero-day, zero-click exploits on iPhones and Android phones, according to The Guardian.
Zero-day exploits are exploits that are not known to the phone manufacturers yet, and usually can be installed remotely on a target's phone through a simple text message or sent link, and there is no user interaction required.
Once the Pegasus spyware is installed, everything that a victim does on their phone can be accessed and monitored by the NSO customer targeting the victim.
Also Read: Jordanian Journalist Targeted by NSO Group's Pegasus Spyware
NSO's Pegasus spyware has been called a threat to democracy by several government agencies and privacy advocates.
It is used to target journalists and human rights activists, which is why Apple has filed a lawsuit against the firm, seeking to ban it from using Apple's products and services.
That ban would make it harder for NSO Group to find zero-day exploits on Apple devices, according to Fast Company.
However, Apple did not only file a ban against NSO Group, Pegasus, and other spyware makers, the tech giant has also announced that it will launch a new feature on its products called Lockdown Mode.
According to The Washington Post, if users believe that they may be at risk of, or they are notified that they are victims of a spyware attack, then they can quickly enable Lockdown Mode, which can be found in the Privacy & Security section of the Settings app.
Once users choose Lockdown Mode, their iPhone, Mac, or iPad will restart, and there are several features that will no longer be available.
All message attachments in the Messages app from all senders, except for pictures, will no longer go through. The feature will also block FaceTime calls from people you have not FaceTimed before.
Different web browsing technologies are blocked, including advanced technologies like just-in-time or JIT JavaScript compilations.
Shared photo albums and new Shared Albums will require requests in the Photos app, wired connections from an iPhone to another device will be blocked if the iPhone is locked.
Invitations in Apple Services from people you have not interacted with before will be blocked, and configuration profiles like those used by VPNs or school networks will be blocked.
What these blocked features have in common is that they are always the vectors by which zero-day, zero-click exploits are delivered.
Most Apple users do not have to worry about Lockdown Mode, though. Most users are unlikely to be targeted by spyware, like Pegasus.
However, for those who are at risk, the new feature is a massive boon, as it quickly locks down all of the currently known spyware entry paths to an iPhone.
Potential Trouble Ahead
In the next few years, global military spyware use is only expected to increase, potentially threatening the safety of thousands of journalists and human rights activists.
Apple says it has already detected the use of spyware against its users from 151 countries. However, the tech giant would not disclose how many users have been targeted, citing its ongoing litigation against the NSO Group.
Related Article: Apple Sends Alerts to Victims of Hackers in Thailand, El Salvador and Uganda
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Sophie Webster
