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Pegasus Spyware in Mexico
The Pegasus spyware, sold to governments by the NSO Group, is accused of being misused by the Mexican government to spy on activists and journalists.
Spanish
United States
Human Rights ViolationsTechnologyArtificial IntelligenceGovernmentCybersecuritySecurityPrivacySurveillance
Nso GroupCitizen LabKaspersky LabRed En Defensa De Los Derechos Digitales (R3D)The New York Times
Carmen AristeguiCarlos Loret De MolaJuan Pardinas
- What is Pegasus and how does it operate?
- Pegasus is spyware developed by the NSO Group and sold to governments, ostensibly for targeting criminals and terrorists. It infiltrates smartphones to monitor calls, texts, emails, and more, even activating the camera and microphone.
- How is Pegasus spread and what access does it provide to attackers?
- The software is spread via SMS messages containing malicious links. If clicked, the link installs spyware that grants access to the device's data, microphone, and camera.
- What are the challenges in tracking and proving the misuse of Pegasus?
- Pegasus exploits zero-day vulnerabilities to infect devices and leaves few traces of the attacker's identity, making it difficult to definitively prove misuse. Cybersecurity experts can identify its use, but not always the perpetrator.
- What is the intended use of Pegasus, and what are the allegations of misuse?
- The NSO Group claims Pegasus is only sold to governments for use against terrorists and criminals; however, reports suggest the Mexican government or a corrupt internal group has misused it to spy on activists and journalists.
- What are the reported expenditures by Mexican government agencies on spyware like Pegasus?
- According to the New York Times, at least three Mexican government agencies spent nearly $80 million on such spyware since 2011, including the PGR, CISEN, and the Ministry of National Defence.