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Mobile device security is back in the spotlight with the discovery of seven Pegasus spyware infections, thanks to a surprisingly low-cost detection tool. This diagnosis, accessible for just one dollar, reveals a worrying reality: the infiltration of spyware into our daily lives is more widespread than we thought.
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An accessible and revolutionary tool
The company iVerify recently launched a spyware detection feature that uncovered these seven infections. This tool relies on a combination of malware signature-based detection, heuristics and machine learning.
This technology is available not only to paying iVerify customers, but also to any user willing to shell out a dollar to download the iVerify Basics app. This low price allows for a monthly scan, providing an extra layer of security to a wider audience.
A threat that affects all sectors
The results of the analysis are striking: the targets are not limited to journalists and activists. Business leaders, public sector professionals and even members of political campaigns are among the victims.
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As Rocky Cole, Director of Operations at iVerify, points out, the target profile more closely resembles that of an advanced persistent threat (APT) group than that of simple mercenary spyware. This observation overturns the traditional perception of the use of spyware.
Results that challenge
Of the 2,500 devices analyzed, only seven revealed Pegasus infections, a figure that might seem small. However, this demonstrates the global proliferation of the use of this spyware.
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The table below summarizes the categories of individuals affected by Pegasus:
| Category | case name |
|---|---|
| Journalists and activists | 2 |
| Business leaders | 3 |
| Public sector professionals | 1 |
| Members of political campaigns | 1 |
Technical challenges of detection
Detecting spyware on mobile operating systems like iOS and Android presents unique challenges. These systems are more closed than desktop operating systems, limiting access to the system's kernel.
To overcome these obstacles, iVerify uses near-core telemetry data to refine its learning models. This approach made it possible to identify characteristic features of Pegasussuch as diagnostic and crash logs.
Towards better protection
The tool developed by iVerify is already considered invaluable. In particular, it made it possible to detect signs of compromise on the smartphone of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh lawyer and political activist.
The tool also detected suspicious nation-state activity on the devices of two members of the Harris-Walz campaign. It becomes crucial to recognize that phones are not secure by default.
Faced with these alarming discoveries, a question arises: how can users better protect themselves against these invisible and ever more sophisticated threats?
Source : Arstechnica
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