Skip to main content

El Salvador journalists reportedly targeted by Pegasus spyware

A cyber watchdog report found the phones of at least 35 journalists and activists in the Latin American country were infected with the controversial Pegasus spyware.
YURI CORTEZ/AFP via Getty Images

The cell phones of dozens of El Salvador-based journalists and activists were targeted with the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware, according to a new digital forensic investigation that adds to the slew of scandals plaguing the NSO Group. 

Researchers from the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and the cyber watchdog Access Now said Wednesday they had identified 35 cases of journalists and civil society members whose phones were infected with Pegasus between July 2020 and November 2021. 

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.