Investigation Reveals Pegasus Spyware Targeting Journalists
An investigation conducted by Access Now revealed the alarming use of Pegasus spyware, developed by Israel’s NSO Group, to target Russian and Belarusian-speaking journalists dating back to at least 2020. The attacks intensified following the Ukraine war in 2022.
Targets Within the European Union
According to a report by digital civil rights NGO Access Now, at least seven Kremlin critics, including journalists, were targeted within the European Union by a state using Pegasus. The victims included individuals from Russia, Belarus, Latvia, and Israel who are journalists and activists residing in the EU.
Details of the Attack
Access Now and the Citizen Lab confirmed that five victims’ phones contained Apple IDs used by Pegasus operators in their hacking attempts. The report highlighted the sophisticated nature of the attacks.
Victims’ Experiences
One victim, a member of Belarusian civil society based in Vilnius, Lithuania, chose to remain anonymous. After receiving an Apple threat notification, it was discovered that their device had been targeted with a state-sponsored attack. Another victim, a Russian journalist living in exile in Vilnius, received multiple Apple threat notifications, indicating ongoing targeting.
Possible Culprits
While Russia was speculated to be behind the spyware attack, the Access Now report did not explicitly name the accused. The investigation did not find evidence suggesting that Russia, Belarus, or Lithuania were Pegasus customers. Estonia, however, was identified as a state that extensively uses Pegasus outside its borders, including within multiple European countries.
