MacDirectory Magazine

Asia Ladowska

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/1401427

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thought to belong to people who are “of interest” to the governments that purchase Pegasus spyware. According to the report, the numbers include hundreds of “journalists … business executives, religious figures, academics, NGO employees, union officials and government officials, including cabinet ministers, presidents and prime ministers”. So why is this an Apple security story? Because as it turns out, iPhone users are not immune to Pegasus. The spyware can infect an iPhone in several ways — including through 0-click iMessage exploits and possibly via the Apple Music app as well. For its part, Apple has issued a statement condemning cyberattacks on journalists and activists, and calling the iPhone “the most secure consumer mobile device on the market”. The statement goes on to offer some reassurances to the general public. Apple points out that tools like Pegasus are typically used in targeted attacks only. As such, Apple says, they “are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users”. In fairness to Apple, that’s likely true in a strict sense. But attacks on journalists and activists have a ripple effect — one that goes far beyond the individuals targeted. A journalist with a compromised iPhone, for example, could have their sources put in danger. And if an activist is stopped from working for the betterment of their society, then that affects everyone. In other words, just because you don’t have to worry about NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware on your own iOS device … doesn’t mean you don’t have to worry about it.

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