NSO Group: Another Admission, This One Is Very, Very Negative
April 13, 2022
I don’t have much to say about the allegations in “NSO Confirms It Gave Israeli Police Access to Malware to Spy on Israelis.” The write up states:
The world’s foremost purveyor of zero-click exploits capable of completely compromising phones of targets is still in damage control mode. The damage can no longer be controlled, though. So, it’s basically just NSO admitting the nasty things said about have been mostly true.
The article does not pull punches:
If Hulio [a big wheel at NSO Group] wants to argue about the specifics of Israeli surveillance law, that’s one thing. But to claim that “listening in on calls” and turning phones into “listening devices” isn’t spying is absurd. Even in its weakened state, the spyware was completely capable of doing plenty of surveillance. And Hulio freely admits it was used to target Israelis. That is domestic surveillance. Lawful or not, that’s what happened and that’s what NSO enabled.
I believe that NSO Group manifested the confidence and “we can do what is possible”. Unfortunately the company’s management has created some challenges for the intelware sector. There’s the frightening aspect of spyware on a phone which embeds itself without the owner of the phone clicking, answering, or tapping. Then there’s the alleged link between the Pegasus and related technology and some unfortunate outcomes. (In my book, being killed is a Grade A unfortunate outcome.) Also less robust intelware outfits operating out of Israel have to check in with a den mother before following their sales instincts and closing some deals.
The disappointing facet of this very public discussion of NSO Group’s technology and business approach is that law enforcement may find that certain technology will not be sold or licensed by some vendors. Period. That’s not helpful in my opinion. The intelware sector is going to have to relearn the policies and procedures of low profile behavior and enforcing secrecy. Can these vendors learn some new tricks? Sure. But now with reporters chasing intelware developers and lawyer circling, has the once unlimited opportunity space been converted into a digital Shrinky Dink? (Don’t know about Shrinky Dinks? Click here.)
Stephen E Arnold, April 13, 2022
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