By JUDAH ARI GROSS and AARON BOXERMAN
Code linked to firm’s Pegasus program found on devices belonging to members of 3 groups recently designated terrorist organizations by Israel in move that drew wide criticism
Cellphones belonging to at least six Palestinian rights activists were hacked using the contentious Israeli cyber-surveillance firm NSO Group’s Pegasus software, according to independent investigations published Monday by the University of Toronto and Amnesty International.
The report did not specify who was behind the alleged hacking, but NSO Group’s export license prohibits the firm from allowing foreign customers to hack Israeli phones — indicating that either NSO Group violated its license or that the hacking was done by Israel, in what would be the first documented case of the technology being used against phones served by Israeli carriers.
