What’s in News

• The Supreme Court has said its technical committee had so far received and tested 29 mobile devices suspected to be infected by Pegasus malware.

What is Pegasus?

• It is a spyware developed by the Israeli cyber arms firm NSO Group Technologies.
• It mainly uses exploit links, clicking on which installs Pegasus on the target’s phone.
• Pegasus had been used for  digital attacks on human rights activists in the world.
• The spyware enabled an attacker to get complete access to a person’s phone, including contacts, calls, camera and messages.

What is Malware?

• Malware– is a term used to describe malicious software, including spyware, ransomware, viruses, and worms. Malware breaches a network through a vulnerability, typically when a user clicks a dangerous link or email attachment that then installs risky software.
  • Spyware is defined as malicious software designed to enter your computer device, gather data about you, and forward it to a third-party without your consent. Spyware can also refer to legitimate software that monitors your data for commercial purposes like advertising.
  • Ransomware is malware that employs encryption to hold a victim’s information at ransom. A user or organization’s critical data is encrypted so that they cannot access files, databases, or applications. Ex:  WannaCry, NotPetya, REvil, Kaseya
  • A computer worm is malware that reproduces itself and spreads over network connections. The computer worm does not usually infect computer files, but rather infects another computer on the network. This is done by the worm replicating itself.
  • A computer virus is a type of malicious software, or malware, that spreads between computers and causes damage to data and software. Computer viruses aim to disrupt systems, cause major operational issues, and result in data loss and leakage.

Reference:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/pegasus-case-sc-grants-more-time-to-probe-panel-29-mobiles-being-examined-for-spyware/article65438682.ece