Culture | The spy in your pocket

“Pegasus” lifts the lid on a sophisticated piece of spyware

The hacking software gives the user wide-ranging access to a smartphone, including the messages, camera and microphone

Activists of Youth Congress protest against the alleged surveillance operation using the Israeli-built Pegasus spyware government, burns effigy of Narendra Modi in Kolkata, India, 02 February, 2022.  (Photo by Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
NSO, under fireImage: Getty Images

Fifteen years after the launch of the iPhone, most people understand the bargain with smartphones. You get navigation anywhere in the world, the web and email on the go and as much music as you can stream—but first you must sacrifice a bit of privacy. Your location, preferences and habits will be transmitted to some faceless corporation to be parsed for insights and sold on to advertisers keen to sell you shampoo or car insurance.

This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “The spy in your pocket”

From the January 21st 2023 edition

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