Second Israeli firm accused of undermining iPhones, like NSO Group
Credit to Author: Jonny Evans| Date: Thu, 03 Feb 2022 09:08:00 -0800
As if recent revelations about NSO Group weren’t bad enough, yet another Israeli firm — QuaDream — has now been accused of using the same hack to undermine iPhone security.
QuaDream also used the hack, Reuters claims
A Reuters report has the details:
- QuaDream made use of the same flaw to commit similar attacks against iPhones.
- The company is smaller than NSO Group, but also sells smartphone hacking tools to governments.
- Both companies used the same highly sophisticated “zero-click” ForcedEntry attack, which enabled them to remotely break into iPhones without an owner needing to click a malicious link.
- Once deployed, attackers using the software could access messages, intercept calls, and use the device as a remote listening device. They also gained access to the camera and more.
- Apple closed this vulnerability in September 2021.
- It is believed NSO Group software was used to target the family of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The news follows the revelation that the FBI also obtained NSO’s Pegasus spyware, but claims it did not use it. That also follows another recent claim that NSO Group offered “bags of cash” in exchange for access to US cellular networks via the SS7 network.
