/dqc/media/agency_attachments/3bO5lX4bneNNijz3HbB7.jpg)
Follow Us/dqc/media/post_banners/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cyber-crime.jpg)
Sometime back the news of Pegasus malware was viral and we had also carried out a story about it.
Today, the malware is rattling Indian media, politics and the IT world again. When it was alleged that the Indian government had purchased Pegasus to infect the mobiles of leaders of ruling party as well as of opposition leaders, journalists and others, the government had given a statement before the Parliament and in Supreme Court that no purchase of this malware was involved from its Israeli company. However, recently, New York Times has published a report that Indian government purchased weapons from Israel and Pegasus came as part of this purchase deal as a value addition.
This report from New York Times is causing a commotion in media and in political circles. It is being alleged that the government consciously purchased this malware in order to spy on the citizens of India.
There is a word of caution for the IT MSMEs - this malware or another one similar to it may have infected your phone. If you suspect unnatural activity, do go for cybersecurity checks
A PIL has been filed in the court, asking for permission to file FIRs against those involved in the deal with Israel.
It is worth noting that the company that sells this malware doesn't disclose the names of institutions or individuals who purchased it.
Since the case is in court, we should wait for the decision. At the same time, it's worthwhile to understand that this is a complicated matter. Many intricate details have to be unwoven to get to the core of the issue. Hence, the court case will take a long time to decide about the issue.
Following issues are some of the most important in this regard -
First, it has to be ascertained that the Indian government indeed purchased Pegasus either as part of the weapons deal, or apart from it.
Second, it has to be ascertained whether it was this particular malware that infected the phones of political leaders, journalists and others.
Third, it has to be clarified whether the malware infected their phones as a result of security breach or whether it was consciously infected by the government. In case of the latter, what was the process of infecting the malware in about 1000 phones in India?
Next, who were the individuals involved in the entire process of government espionage and what was their intention?
If all the above are proved, then the individuals involved in this kind of espionage must be punished.
Meanwhile, there is a word of caution for the IT MSMEs - this malware or another one similar to it may have infected your phone. If you suspect unnatural activity, do go for cybersecurity checks.