An Indian journalist, Anand Magnale, has reportedly fallen victim to hacking through Pegasus, an infamous spyware developed by the Israeli-based NSO Group. An examination of Magnale’s iPhone indicated a hacking attempt in August, leading to heightened concerns about national security and renewed calls for more stringent IT regulations. Magnale, affiliated with the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), was among several individuals in India who received alerts on their Apple devices, sparking a contentious debate over the issue of potential state-sponsored surveillance and the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures.
The alerts were not specific about the government entity responsible for the alleged hacking or the utilization of spyware. Additionally, several politicians also reported receiving similar Apple alerts, alleging that they were targeted by ‘state-sponsored’ hackers attempting to gain remote access to their iPhones.
However, the alerts lacked details regarding the government entities behind the suspected hacking or the use of spyware. Moreover, the Indian government swiftly dismissed allegations of involvement in the reported ‘hacking’ incidents and initiated an inquiry into the matter.
Drew Sullivan, co-founder of OCCRP, disclosed that forensic analysis of Magnale’s phone revealed a pattern of suspicious crashes consistent with known Pegasus intrusions. Notably, Magnale has not yet commented on the situation, and the Union IT ministry has not provided an immediate response to the report.
Pegasus, a spyware exclusively sold to government bodies, is designed to combat terrorism and crime by providing extensive access to the target’s smartphone. It enables the recording of calls, interception of messages, and the transformation of phones into portable listening devices, raising significant privacy concerns.
Sullivan emphasized the lack of plausible explanations for government spying on reporters, suggesting political motivations behind such actions. iVerify, the company conducting the forensics on Magnale’s phone, asserted ‘with high confidence’ that his device was indeed targeted with Pegasus. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges posed by advanced spyware and the imperative for robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard individual privacy and national security.
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