While technology is advancing, there also comes a question about security. With the number of spyware being invented, you may think gadgets are the least secure handheld devices to trust these days. There is that sophisticated spyware that breakthrough firewalls and is not even detected by antivirus software. Therefore, you may never know when your phone is being spied on by this spyware. However, today I have come with one of the common spyware programs that we shall study today. You will know if your phone is being spied on by Pegasus spyware here.
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What is Pegasus Spyware?
Like its name suggest, Pegasus is a spyware program that was developed by the Israeli cyber arms firm NSO Group. This spyware program may be secretly installed on a mobile phone running any version of iOS or Android.
Since most texting applications use end-to-end encryption technology, spying companies found it hard to intercept messages and find some meaning to those chunks of data. Therefore, they went ahead and invented spyware programs like Pegasus that sit right on the recipient gadget and will capture every incoming data that has been interpreted into meaning.
Pegasus is a very dangerous spyware program since it has the ability to take control over your phone’s camera, microphone, and other sensitive phone’s functionalities. It is claimed that Pegasus was invented to track criminals across the globe and that the company only sells this software to the government, but how true is that?
How Pegasus works
To perform any spying operations, Pegasus must first be installed on the target device. Usually, it may be installed through your phone’s vulnerabilities such as through other applications or by spear-phishing (clicking a link over the internet, opening documents that you are not sure of). These may trigger the installation of Pegasus on your phone.
Another common way of how Pegasus may access your phone is when you access WI-FI connections that you are not sure of. These days you may find more than ten unknown WI-FI hotspots when you open your phone’s wireless setup. Don’t just connect to any WI-FI network you find.
Once Pegasus has been installed on your phone, it will collect all incoming and internally generated data in your phone and send it directly to the person spying on you. Since it has access to your camera and phone files, it is also capable of stealing videos, photos, audio, and texts and delivers them to the attacker. It will watch and report all your activities.
The most tricky thing about Pegasus is that your phone may get infected by the spyware in case a zombie phone (Phones already infected by Pegasus) calls you over WhatsApp. Even if you didn’t pick that call, your phone shall still be infected.
Here’s how to check if your phone is being spied on by Pegasus
Unfortunately, you may not know when Pegasus has been installed on your phone. This spyware program has some anti-forensic and self-destruct features that allow it to enter into a phone without being detected by antivirus programs or any firewalls.
It is told that even if this spying program was uninstalled, still it won’t leave any traces behind which makes it hard to be detected. However, the only thing you can do now is to protect your phone from this spyware.
How do I protect myself from spyware?
- Don’t open links that are from unknown resources. Avoid links that promise your free data, travel abroad for free, free airtime, Covid funds, and so on.
- Endeavor to update your device whenever there is a new update available. This will help to keep your phone’s security system up to date.
- Still on the updates, don’t just find updates on any site you find. Visit the official website of your manufacturer to find genuine updates for your Smartphone.
- Don’t connect to any WI-FI network you find. Some networks may be infected with this spyware program.