Technology
Your iPhone can be hacked WITHOUT clicking on anything – how to stay safe
PEGASUS spyware can infiltrate right through iOS 14’s security protections, according to a new study.
The spyware that’s infamous for targeting journalists around the world can reportedly access a victim’s iPhone without them clicking anything.
GettyYou should always make sure your phone software is up to date[/caption]
According to a new report from Citizen Lab, the Pegasus spyware tool can be used for a “zero-click attack” on an iPhone.
The researchers say this type of attack was carried out on the iPhones of nine Bahraini activists between June 2020 and February 2021.
A “zero-click attack” means no interaction from the victim is necessary for the spyware to infiltrate the device.
More commonly, a hacker will want you to open a malicious link in order to load spyware on your phone.
Researchers claim iOS 14.4 and 14.6 are vulnerable.
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However, Apple is said to be aware of the issue and more security protections are thought to be coming with future updates.
The best thing you can do is keep your phone software up to date in order to protect yourself from hackers.
The latest iPhone iOS is the 14.7.1 version.
What is Pegasus spyware?
Pegasus is military-grade software that can be secretly uploaded onto a smartphone or device.
It’s been round since 2016 but a recent leak has brought it back into the news.
It was designed by Israeli company NSO Group, also called as Q Cyber Technologies.
The spyware can film you through your phone camera, listen to calls and even send messages from your phone.
It’s known to have targeted both Apple and Android devices.
Pegasus used to be installed on smartphones by encouraging victims to click on a link that may have been emailed or texted to them.
A new version of the spyware can load on a phone without the user needing to click anything.
It can avoid detection by antivirus software.
How to check if Pegasus spyware is on your phone
Amnesty International has released a new tool so you can check if Pegasus spyware is secretly on your phone.
The human rights organisation released a detailed report and the toolkit for anyone concerned.
The Mobile Verification Toolkit looks for small traces left behind by the software.
Overall, the process takes about a minute or two once you’ve uploaded a back up of all your phones information to the webpage.
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