NSO Group was co-founded by ex-members of Unit 8200, the Israeli Intelligence Corps unit responsible for collecting signals intelligence. The unit relies on selecting 16-18 year-old recruits with the ability for rapid adaptation and speedy learning. Former soldiers of this unit have also created ICQ, Viber, Incapsula, Onavo, and dozens of other IT companies[1]. "How Israel Rules The World Of Cyber Security" is a short documentary by VICE[2].<p>[1] <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_8200" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_8200</a><p>[2] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca-C3voZwpM" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca-C3voZwpM</a>
I think it's disturbing what happened to Khashoggi...but I don't understand what the U.S. or the West is supposed to do about it. We can't go to war over some guy who wasn't even our citizen, killed in Turkey, by a foreign government. I hate to say it, but don't things like this happen all the time in certain countries?
Can you imagine being a software engineer and being okay with getting rich by developing technology to out dissidents and have them murdered by some of the most oppressive governments on earth? Like, that's what you <i>choose</i> to spend your time on.
Can somebody explain how was it possible to get whatsapp messages when it applies E2E encryption?<p>Did they have physical access to the devices? Was it all remote? Is it even feasible on an individual level and what would be the alternative(Signal? Telegram?)?
Citizen Lab [0] has an excellent writeup, it got installed by exploiting a vuln in iOS which jailbroke the device from a fake DHL parcel tracking link (screenshot included).<p>[0] <a href="https://citizenlab.ca/2018/10/the-kingdom-came-to-canada-how-saudi-linked-digital-espionage-reached-canadian-soil/" rel="nofollow">https://citizenlab.ca/2018/10/the-kingdom-came-to-canada-how...</a>
NYTimes: It is anti-semitic and scandalous that Facebook hired someone else to point out that George Soros' money helped groups critical of Facebook.<p>Also NYTimes: Israeli Software Helped Saudis...
Aside from the much more important core issues in the article, I found this bit interesting:<p>> Because of those sweepingly invasive capabilities, Israel classifies the spyware as a weapon. The company must obtain approval from the Defense Ministry for its sale to foreign governments.<p>Does the U.S. use such classification for spyware and similar tools? What are the standards which determine whether or not it's a weapon?
Given how much of the software development happens in Israel, there is probably some Israeli software in every phone. So describing it as "Israeli software" (as if it's the only software ever made in Israel or Israel is exclusively known for developing spyware) is extremely misleading.
>><i>Saudi Arabia paid $55 million last year for its use</i><p>They are going to ask questions after the Saudis splashing $55m? As if they needed to ask questions. It's known why Russia, China, SA, UAE, Sudan and the likes want these programs