Apple sues iPhone jailbreak software

Apple has filed a lawsuit against the Israeli company NSO Group, which is the developer of the Pegasus iPhone jailbreak software. This was reported on the company’s website.

The company demands a ban on the distribution of Pegasus software in order to prevent illegal surveillance of iPhone users. In a statement, Apple claims that the software was created by a government order and purposefully collected information about the actions of the victims. “Organizations like the NSO Group, sponsored by the state, are investing millions of dollars in the development of sophisticated spy technology without essentially being held accountable for their activities. This practice needs to change, ”said Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi.

In a statement, the hackers exploited the already fixed ForcedEntry vulnerability. This flaw in iOS allowed a limited number of users to be hacked. As a result of the lawsuits, Apple intends not only to ban Pegasus, but also to compensate for legal costs of organizations that conduct research in the field of protection of privacy. Representatives of the corporation believe that the NSO Group not only compromised the personal data of the victims, but also violated US federal law by attacking Apple and its users.

As an additional measure, Apple plans to provide $ 10 million to support privacy-focused organizations. The company will also notify users who may have been affected by Pegasus.

“Apple is leading one of the most challenging security design operations ever, and we will continue to relentlessly protect our users from attackers like the government-sponsored NSO Group,” said Ivan Krstic, director of security design.

The use of Pegasus software to spy on activists, journalists and leaders of some countries became known in the middle of summer. The program was developed by the Israeli software manufacturer NSO Group. In September, media reported that the software was being used to wiretap five French ministers.