BREAKING: massive, global leak of the targets of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware. *huge deal.*
Forensic investigation by @AmnestyTech
in collaboration with @FbdnStories reporters.
We @citizenlab conducted peer review.
Here's an explainer THREAD.
https://t.co/TasFCy5EGW https://t.co/rGGKAkfSry
2. Background: the already-notorious NSO Group makes mercenary spyware to silently & remotely hack iPhones & Androids.
Many of their government customers are authoritarians.
Most cannot resist the temptation to target their critics, reporters, human rights groups etc. https://t.co/97oHA6fsV9
3. More about leaked numbers & targets in a sec, but first you need to know:
@AmnestyTech just released a report with technical analysis of NSO's infrastructure... & analysis validating w/forensics that some phones were infected with Pegasus.
https://t.co/WCl5rDvpv7
4. We @citizenlab independently peer reviewed @AmnestyTech's forensic methodology, including how they identify an infected phone.
Our review, led by my colleague @billmarczak, judged their forensics & research methodology to be SOUND.
https://t.co/YTTqFdx7AI https://t.co/d8whUyioEJ
5. Now, to the findings: >50k numbers were leaked that are reportedly part of the infection & targeting workflow with Pegasus.
To help validate the relationship between these numbers & infections @AmnestyTech got consent to forensically examine a subset of the devices. https://t.co/Vd2rMz2ARf
6. The @FbdnStories consortium worked w/the leaked phone numbers... what they found reveals 10 of NSO Group's customers insatiable intent to snoop.
And the massive scale of the operation.
- Mexico customer > 15,000
- Morocco > 10,000
- UAE > 10,00
Etc. https://t.co/MPxtS9ihW3
7. #SaudiArabia 🇸🇦 murdered & dismembered Jamal Khashoggi.
Jamal's wife was targeted with Pegasus spyware before the killing...
Then his fiancee was hacked multiple times just days after.
@citizenlab independently confirmed findings.
#PegasusProject
https://t.co/FYcDwr7rAn https://t.co/MfSDEc3Nj2
8. #HUNGARY 🇭🇺
Ask the government for comment... get hacked.
Hungary's far-right PM Viktor Orbán is using Pegasus spyware to surveil & attack Hungary's independent media, like @direkt36, @panyiszabolcs, and many more.
Story: @shaunwalker7 https://t.co/FuXWoylRul https://t.co/yM1KHbjRej
9. #INDIA🇮🇳 Over 40 reporters, major opposition figures, serving ministers in the #Modi government, members of the security services and beyond are in the list.
Story to watch as the scandal unfolds there.
Story @svaradarajan @thewire_in
https://t.co/te9Fqwop38 https://t.co/Zutt1pia8l
10. HUNDREDS of journalists around the globe are on the #PegasusProject list.
NSO Group's role in fueling the authoritarian assault on democratic values (like a free press) is coming into sharp focus
https://t.co/Akfdzw9MCX https://t.co/PQqKgq83lH
11. NSO Group puts up a facade of caring about human rights, doing due diligence, etc.
This leak exposes the farce of that performance.
When your customers are dictators... they will do bad things. NSO knows this. We know it.
Now everybody knows it. https://t.co/zapMzJvrUK
12. Continuing with cases.... in #FRANCE 🇫🇷
#PegasusProject list includes @edwyplenel, founder of independent news site @Mediapart, a reporter from @lemondefr, etc..
Story https://t.co/695Gxl0eqL https://t.co/5AY3U8axaJ
13. in #Mexico 🇲🇽 Journalist Cecilio Pineda Birto was getting death threats for reporting on official collusion with a cartel capo...
...then his number showed up on the #PegasusProject list.
Then he was assassinated.
https://t.co/AB49bJZ12z https://t.co/LKRCJSutCk
14. Bookmark this thread. Things are only getting started.
I'll be updating it with more cases & context as #PegasusProject revelations keep dropping.
15. REASON TO CARE #1
So, you didn't know today's #PegasusProject hacking victims personally.
But tomorrow? Who knows. You don't.
#NSOGROUP is aggressively pitching *local* cops, including in USA 🇺🇸
Pause. Think about the oversight at your local PD.
https://t.co/xSr7EEDLMZ https://t.co/gAOe9oU4zi
16. REASON TO CARE #2:
Since all phones are vulnerable, #Pegasus spyware lets its autocrat-users *export fear*
They want want *you* to be afraid to criticize them.
Yes, you. A continent away. In a democracy.
Think about the implications.
7. REASON TO CARE #3:
Think only human rights defenders & journalists get hacked with #Pegasus?
Wrong.
Good chance officials responsible for the national security of YOUR country have been / will be targeted.
Example pic: 2019 #NSOGroup WhatsApp hack.
https://t.co/0XYGbL07WD https://t.co/5oExzzxX6N
18. Know who else is saying #NSOGroup must be stopped?
Big tech.
These days they are hitting back hard against the mercenary spyware industry for hacking their products & users.
E.g. this thread by @wcathcart @WhatsApp's CEO.👇
https://t.co/dyjZREqRmK
19. #INDIA🇮🇳 (2/)
She accused the Chief Justice of India’s Supreme Court of sexual harassment.
Just days later:
Her phone. Her husband's phone. Their family members..
11 in total then showed up on the #PegasusProject list.
https://t.co/hi2gXVmqHp https://t.co/kNUxrrNwo2
20. #FRANCE 🇫🇷 Claude Mangin is campaigning for the release of her husband, a political activist, from a #moroccan prison.
She's in France.
Last month her iPhone 11 was silently hacked w/#Pegasus spyware. A second iPhone she borrowed? Also infected.
https://t.co/4LkbwnZ8lq https://t.co/ri8aCpa392
21. BREAKING: Americans 🇺🇸 including US. Gov. officials are on the #PegasusProject list...
...even the #Biden administration's lead Iran negotiator Robert Malley!
#NSOGroup is an urgent national security problem for the United States.
https://t.co/PDpKXWgoQq https://t.co/JxANkfcTGy
22. #MEXICO 🇲🇽: At least *50 people* close to the president ... are on the #PegasusProject spyware list.
They were put there while he was campaigning.
-His wife
-Family members, drivers, doctor
-Aides, chief of staff
-Doctor...
#PegasusProject
Story https://t.co/bYasa114WO https://t.co/2YgzlvFJHt
23. Paul Rusesabagina inspired Hotel #Rwanda 🇷🇼
He's become a critic of the gov., and was recently thrown in jail.
His American 🇺🇸 daughter, while advocating for his release, has been incessantly surveilled w/ #Pegasus.
#PegasusProject
By @skirchy https://t.co/3nQb2B6aIa https://t.co/7hyuGea5wM
24. Policies to stop the global spyware catastrophe?
Experts @davidakaye & @MarietjeSchaake say:
- Immediate moratorium on sale & transfer
-Rule-of-law requirements on users
-Victims must be able to sue
-Global principles of conduct
#PegasusProject
https://t.co/60JBvg8qrS https://t.co/d8225HcIfu
25. #INDIA 🇮🇳 (3/) Rahul Gandhi was Prime Minister #Modi's main opponent in the 2019 nat'l elections.
During the campaign, 2 of his phones were put on the #PegasusProject list, and 5 of his friends & fellow Congress party officials.
https://t.co/niZcPPKgR3 https://t.co/RfoyPTJlC8
26. #NSOGroup & #Pegasus spyware customers are issuing panicky, fairy-tale denials.
Here's my take.
#PegasusProject
https://t.co/M6tpDpyqe1
27. BREAKING: 10 prime ministers, 3 presidents & a king on the #PegasusProject spyware list.
Included, French president @EmmanuelMacron
🇫🇷
Crystal clear: #NSOGroup is a global national security threat.
Story: https://t.co/qW4paLz7IF https://t.co/npvridrwkp
28. #NSOGroup, after courting a lot of press, is suddenly not interested in talking....
So begins the hope-this-dies-down phase of crisis management?
#PegasusProject
https://t.co/Qvdi6XIOMT
29. NEW "there's gotta be some accountability for spies-for-hire"
Senator @RonWyden to Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday in light of #PegasusProject revelations about #NSOGroup spyware.
Full: https://t.co/uiqatzUWcN https://t.co/CqBteOTfnS
30. NEW: 1st legal complaint from #Pegasus victims over latest spyware revelations has landed in France 🇫🇷
Brought by 2 journalists, supported by press freedom org @RSF_inter
Their statement says more complaints inbound.
#PegasusProject
https://t.co/iw3U54P09d https://t.co/osRN6HPgz4
31. NEW: Dalai Lama's inner circle on the #PegasusProject list. (He's not thought to carry a phone)
Happened in period before & after a private meeting with @BarackObama.
#India🇮🇳 suspected as #NSOGroup #spyware client responsible.
Report: https://t.co/dVQt7KNfEj https://t.co/0DqpJteoIY
32. NEW: While #NSOGroup is trying to distract you with a counter narrative...
Here are #Indian 🇮🇳 Police barging into the offices of one of the #PegasusProject media outlets. 👇
https://t.co/YvK9lNHKKY
35. TODAY: @WhatsApp CEO @wcathcart rubbishes #NSOGroup's denials:
- #PegasusProject reporting consistent w/targeting in #NSOGroup's 2019 attack on WhatsApp users.
- Points out: in *only* 2 weeks 1.4k numbers were confirmed targeted in 2019. Do the math.
https://t.co/3odDQKBI0E https://t.co/0vBolNMN7d
36. BIG DEAL: today @WhatsApp CEO @wcathcart *publicly confirmed* that senior national security officials of US allies🇺🇸 were targeted with #Pegasus spyware in 2019.
Clear message: #NSOGroup spyware is a national security threat.
By @skirchy https://t.co/3odDQKBI0E https://t.co/gTvg80bL5z
37. Taking #NSOGroup's denials at face value?
CEO: "you won't reach 50,000 #Pegasus targets since the company was founded"
FACT: there were >1,400 *confirmed* targets in just 2 weeks in 2019 per @WhatsApp.
At this rate NSO would have easily reached 50k+
https://t.co/WCNOnozLL0 https://t.co/DcYUOkh9lv
38. Not familiar with the 2019 #NSOGroup attack on @WhatsApp?
#Pegasus spyware was used to target people via WhatsApp in 2019. WhatsApp spotted it, quickly shut it down, notified all targets...and then *sued* NSO.
We @citizenlab helped investigate.
https://t.co/biMxFzJF9O
39. "A.Q. Khans of the cyber world"
🇺🇸 US lawmakers just came out swinging against mercenary hacking company #NSOGroup.
Statement: US Gov must impose consequences in light of latest revelations of spyware misuse.
Reps @Malinowski @RepKatiePorter @JoaquinCastrotx @RepAnnaEshoo https://t.co/rVgMxc9M4o
