A high-ranking European politician has been hacked using a notorious spyware program designed for the Israeli firm NSO Group. The individual in question was a government customer of NSO's Pegasus software, which is used to track and manipulate phone calls, texts, and emails. According to reports, the politician was targeted by NSO Group's employees while serving on an EU committee tasked with investigating the company and its spyware industry.
The incident highlights the potential for cyber attacks against high-profile individuals in positions of power. The politician in question had been working closely with the European Parliament to shed light on the issue of Pegasus, a spyware that uses AI-powered malware to evade detection by traditional security software. However, this latest breach suggests that the company has been able to penetrate even the most secure systems.
NSO Group's CEO, Shai Rubin, acknowledged in a statement that his firm had used Pegasus to hack into the politician's phone, but claimed that it was not intended to cause harm and only for "public education" purposes. The incident raises serious questions about the use of such spyware by governments and corporations alike, and whether such activities can be justified under international law. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what consequences will follow for NSO Group's actions.