It's almost like being robbed of your soul by a ghost.
Zero-Click Exploit
A New York Times journalist claims that a hacker gained access to his iPhone by sending him a message, even though he had never clicked anything.
According to an article in the NYT, Ben Hubbard, a NYT reporter who covers the Middle East, stated that hackers used a zero-click vulnerability to gain access to his phone in 2020-2021. Experts believe that even a single iMessage sent by a hacker with this exploit could be enough to expose personal data.
Hubbard said it was like being robbed of a ghost.
Spyware Pegasus
Hubbard was able trace the source of this text to Pegasus spyware after consulting Citizen Lab, an anti-spyware research institute. Although the software was developed by NSO Group in Israel, it has been linked to hacking of mobile phones before, though the company denies these claims regularly.
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It appears that the software was used by the Saudi Arabian Government in attempts to hack Hubbard. This is likely because he regularly reports on the Middle Eastern country and even wrote a novel about Crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is alleged to have ordered the assassination Jamal Khashoggi's critical reporting of the Saudi government. He believes that Saudi Arabia is responsible for the two zero-click attacks.
Troubling Hacks
Hacks can be extremely troubling for many reasons.
It shows how sophisticated hackers have become in recent years. It's not enough to avoid suspicious links. Your personal data could be at risk if your receive a simple text message. Apple has attempted to improve their security, but it's like playing whack a mole. While you might be able to hit one, another will soon follow.
It is also extremely disturbing that government agencies could hack into phones of journalists and private citizens to spy on them. It would not happen in the United States. Oh no!
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READ MORE: I was hacked. We are all vulnerable because of the spyware used against me. [The New York Times]
Learn more about hackers: Teen Hacks School Computer System and Rickrolls Entire District
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