Reports suggest that the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) used Pegasus spyware, developed by Israel-based NSO Group, as part of a secret operation during a recent rescue mission inside Iran. According to The Times of London, the spyware was used to send misleading messages to Iran’s leadership and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These messages falsely claimed that a downed US airman had already been located. The goal was to confuse Iranian authorities while the US worked to recover one of two airmen whose aircraft had crashed inside Iranian territory during the ongoing conflict that began on February 28. This rescue was considered unusual, as losses of US aircraft inside Iran are rare. What is Pegasus spyware? Pegasus is a powerful surveillance tool created by the Israeli cyber intelligence company NSO Group. Governments are officially allowed to use it to track criminals and terrorists. However, reports say intelligence agencies, including the CIA, have also used it to secretly monitor communications and collect sensitive data from mobile phones. How Pegasus can secretly enter phones Pegasus can quietly take control of a smartphone without the user knowing. In some cases, it reportedly enters a device through something as simple as a missed WhatsApp video call. The user doesn’t even need to answer the call. Once installed, the spyware can access: It is designed to stay hidden, uses very little battery or data, and can even delete itself remotely if needed. The 2019 WhatsApp spyware incident In 2019, WhatsApp revealed that Pegasus had been used to target around 1,400 users worldwide. Victims reportedly included journalists, lawyers, human rights activists, and government officials. The attack worked through missed voice or video calls, allowing spyware to enter phones without any action from users. After the incident, WhatsApp filed a lawsuit in the United States against NSO Group, accusing the company of misusing its platform and violating user privacy.
