![]() ![]() Because there's only one Pegasus tool available from the group, "people should be careful before installing any software pretending to come from Amnesty."Ĭybercriminals often prey on victims' fear related to current events to trick them into making poor decisions, cybersecurity experts said. "It is outrageous to see criminals exploiting the trust people have in Amnesty International," she told the Washington Examiner. The only Pegasus tool available from Amnesty International is Mobile Verification Toolkit, designed for security specialists, a spokeswoman at the human rights organization noted. The malware can also activate the remote desktop protocol on the victim's machine, potentially giving the hacker direct access to the desktop. ![]() Talos said the phony website distributes the Sarwent malware, which gives hackers a back door into a victim's computer. "However, our investigation has not found any other supporting data to make clear whether this is a financially motivated actor using headlines to gain new access or a state-supported actor going after targets who are rightfully concerned about the threat Pegasus presents to them." ![]() "The use of Amnesty International's name, an organization whose work often puts it at odds with governments around the world, as well as the Pegasus brand, a malware that has been used to target dissidents and journalists on behalf of governments, certainly raises concerns about who exactly is being targeted and why," they added. The attackers appear to be Russian speakers, but their motivations are unclear, Talos researchers wrote. "Many users may be searching for protection against this threat at this time." "We believe this campaign has the potential to infect many users given the recent spotlight on the Pegasus spyware," Talos wrote. It would make sense that the human rights group, targeted by Pegasus users, would distribute a tool to remove the spyware. The genius of the scheme is that Amnesty International has been one of the leading research organizations focused on Pegasus. The hacking tool is getting distributed on a website that mimics the look of the Amnesty International site, Cisco Systems's cybersecurity arm Talos said in a blog post on Sept. Cybercriminals are getting creative while trying to capitalize on the recent news that some buyers of a military-grade surveillance software tool are misusing it to spy on journalists, activists, and business leaders.Īfter news reports surfaced about unauthorized spying activities from clients of the Pegasus surveillance tool sold by Israeli company NSO Group, cybercriminals are distributing a so-called antivirus tool that is supposed to block Pegasus, but in reality, it contains a remote access tool that allows hackers to get inside the victim's computer. ![]()
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