“The country is strengthening all security protocols following a specially convened meeting of the nation’s Defence Council.”
— Office of the French President
In a swift action on spyware Pegasus that has been allegedly used on journalists, rights activists and some heads of state, the French President Emmanuel Macron ordered tighter cybersecurity and changed his phone.
The French President seems to be the first head of state to take such an action soon after the news of the spyware hit the headlines across the globe.
The country is “strengthening all security protocols” following a specially convened meeting of the nation’s Defence Council, his office said.
Pegasus is highly sophisticated spyware that can reach any phone via a website link or a WhatsApp call. Pegasus has been referred to as the most sophisticated smartphone attack ever
“Macron has himself changed his phone and number for certain exchanges,” it said.
Pegasus is highly sophisticated spyware that can reach any phone via a website link or a WhatsApp call. Pegasus has been referred to as the most sophisticated smartphone attack ever.
Cybersecurity researchers say, Pegasus, Developed by Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO Group, contacts control servers can relay commands and gather information from the infected device. It has the capability to steal passwords, contacts, text messages and access the phone’s camera, microphone, and GPS, and other information.
It first came up in 2016 and is often referred to as the “most sophisticated smartphone attack ever”. However, it was in 2019 that it really got noticed when the fact came to light that the spyware was being used for spying on journalists and human rights activists in the world over. While Washington Post and the Guardian, said that over ten governments were using it, it was in India that around 40 journalists were under its surveillance.
Pegasus is software that is used against journalists, lawyers, top business leaders, politicians. These are the people who may be linked to top-secret information that is confidential and secret.