How spyware Pegasus used WhatsApp servers to infect phones and steal data

Pegasus has been around for three years and is considered one of the most sophisticated spyware in the market

What: On October 29, US-based messaging platform WhatsApp dragged to court the NSO Group, an Israeli cyber-intelligence technology firm. In the first lawsuit of its kind, the social media giant has alleged that the NSO Group’s highly sophisticated spyware, Pegasus, infected 1,400 phones in 20 countries, including those of more than 100 human rights activists and journalists.

In India, Chhattisgarh-based activist Shalini Gera, Nagpur-based lawyer Nihalsing Rathod, Adivasi rights activist Bela Bhatia, academic on Dalit issues Anand Teltumbde and former BBC journalist Shubhranshu Choudhary were among those targeted. Pegasus gained access to their devices through missing WhatsApp video calls. Thereon