For Israel, it's a fact of survival to be ahead of whatever is deemed necessary; so the discovery of sophisticated spyware to infiltrate and remotely take control of iPhones without leaving a trace isn't really a surprise.
However, it has put a spotlight on Israel’s secretive surveillance industry, considered among the world’s most advanced. Apple rushed out a security update last week after researchers said a prominent Emirati rights activist was targeted by “Pegasus” spyware attributed to Israeli firm NSO Group, based in Herzliya in the country’s “Silicon Valley”.
NSO Group - the Israeli personnel would probably have come from the Israeli military - is now owned by US private equity firm Francisco Partners Management.
NSG has flown far under the radar and hasn't even a website. It is among some 27 surveillance firms headquartered in Israel and according to a recent report from British NGO Privacy International—putting Israel - a country of only eight million people - at the top of the list of such companies per capita. According to Privacy International, Israel has 0.33 such firms per 100,000 people, while the United States has 0.04.
However, it has put a spotlight on Israel’s secretive surveillance industry, considered among the world’s most advanced. Apple rushed out a security update last week after researchers said a prominent Emirati rights activist was targeted by “Pegasus” spyware attributed to Israeli firm NSO Group, based in Herzliya in the country’s “Silicon Valley”.
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| The temple of Scientology; better know as Apple on 5th Ave |
NSG has flown far under the radar and hasn't even a website. It is among some 27 surveillance firms headquartered in Israel and according to a recent report from British NGO Privacy International—putting Israel - a country of only eight million people - at the top of the list of such companies per capita. According to Privacy International, Israel has 0.33 such firms per 100,000 people, while the United States has 0.04.
