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Israel police accused of using Pegasus spyware to hack phones of civilians

An investigative report by Calcalist newspaper claims Israel police has used the NSO-developed spyware Pegasus to hack cell phones of suspected criminals, of witnesses to criminal cases and of activists.
NSO Israel

The NSO spyware Pegasus, a source of diplomatic embarrassment for Israel for months, was apparently also used by Israel police.

An investigative report published Jan. 18 by the financial Calcalist newspaper claims that the police purchased the software in 2013, under then-Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino, and actually started using it in 2015, when former Shin Bet senior Roni Alsheikh served as police commissioner. The software allegedly served the secret police cyber brigade named Signet. The report further claims that police used Pegasus to hack phones not only of criminals but also of activists and other civilians, without court authorization or the control of a judge.

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