iPhone spyware highlights Israel's advanced surveillance prowess

[forest444]

Source: Times of india

The discovery of sophisticated spyware to infiltrate and remotely take control of iPhones without leaving a trace has put a spotlight on Israel's secretive surveillance industry, considered among the world's most advanced.

Apple rushed out a security update last week after researchers said a prominent Emirati rights activist was targeted by "Pegasus" spyware attributed to Israeli firm NSO Group, based in Herzliya in the country's "Silicon Valley." The NSO Group, now owned by U.S. private equity firm Francisco Partners Management, has flown far under the radar, without even a website. It's among 27 surveillance firms headquartered in Israel, according to a recent report from the British NGO Privacy International - putting the country of eight million people at the top of the list on a per capita basis.

But activists question whether enough attention is paid to the potential for abuse of such invasive technology, including whether governments will simply target opponents.

"Opposition activists, human rights defenders, and journalists have been placed under intrusive government surveillance and individuals have had their communications read to them during torture," Privacy International said. "State agencies are also utilising technologies used for surveillance for offensive and military purposes as well as espionage."

Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-news/iPhone-spyware-highlights-Israels-advanced-surveillance-prowess/articleshow/53910538.cms

[Wilms]

1. I thought only Russians, a few Chinese, and one Australian were hackers.

[forest444]

2. Sign of the times, I guess.

But Israel has much more than their share, given their highly advanced cyber-technology sector - courtesy of their own highly skilled engineers; but also a good deal of industrial espionage, and of course the U.S. taxpayer.

[onehandle]

3. Took Apple about a week to get the update out. Meanwhile in Android world...

Think Android security updates take too long to roll out? So do the FTC and FCC

Both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are starting to ask the questions that Android users have been asking for years: why do updates and upgrades take so long to roll out?

If you're in possession of a flagship or recent handset, the chances are you're in line to receive timely updates for the foreseeable future. But Android's fragmentation means that older handsets quickly drop off the radar, get forgotten and remain unpatched. The FCC and the FTC both want to know why security patches are slow to hit phones, and the agencies have launched separate, but parallel, investigations.

http://betanews.com/2016/05/10/android-security-investigation-fcc-ftc

[Blue_Tires]

4. Snowden, Greenwald, etc were unavailable for comment

[Wilms]

5. But you were.

Thanks for the valuable insight.

[Blue_Tires]

6. My thoughts on the issue are well known...

If you have a direct question for me, please ask...