Apple Reportedly Notified Some U.S. State Department Employees They May Have Been Targeted by NSO Group Spyware

[centauratlas]

When will they realize that everything should be end to end encrypted with on device keys? Instead of blocking it. Didn’t they learn from Snowden? If the NSA is doing, someone else is trying to. And perhaps succeeding. It isn't a panacea for sure, but it definitely will help prevent a billion device iCloud compromis.

 

[0924487]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

Probably either themselves or Israel. Not China, I don’t think.

 

[msp3]

Funny how when the government spies on your it's all fine and well, and when the government get spied on it's suddenly a big deal

 

[SenorWhyMe]

Israel is not our ally

 

[SBlue1]

Are you sure? It seems unlikely. I haven't heard the US isn't pulling our officials from there in protest. Surely it must be some other place. They are an ally after all. It must be Russia. Yes, that's it. It's Putin again.

The US spied on its allies so why not the other way round?

 

[Macaholic868]

Letting people know is cute. Fixing whatever bugs allow it is the solution. I’d suggest they focus more on that than having iCloud photos report users to the authorities when one of their sure to be buggy algorithms detects a false positive.

 

[nt5672]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

I would bet it was the NSA or FBI.

 

[Airforcekid]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

France, Israel, Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia and China are typically the usual suspects though the motives are different between them of those I’d only be seriously concerned about two.

 

[Airforcekid]

It seems to me there are a number of candidates, but Israel is not likely to be one of them. According to Reuters, the targeted employees were based in Uganda, so whoever targeted the employees were likely interested in gaining information around US policy in that region. In addition, (per multiple press reports), past clients of NSO include Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and UAE. Saudi Arabia in particular allegedly leveraged NSO software a couple years ago to target Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist who was kidnapped at an embassy in Istanbul and dismembered.

Israel has a lot of spies within the US state department especially an issue with interns. It typically isn’t malicious just gathering data on how the US would involve itself if they were to come under attack by Iran etc. When it comes to the US though cyber isn’t really their style they prefer in person contacts that can last decades and are nearly impossible to find/stop.

 

[hot-gril]

When will they realize that everything should be end to end encrypted with on device keys? Instead of blocking it. Didn’t they learn from Snowden? If the NSA is doing, someone else is trying to. And perhaps succeeding. It isn't a panacea for sure, but it definitely will help prevent a billion device iCloud compromis.

If you want maximum security, that's the way, but it comes at a cost to usability. Really you're best off disabling iCloud entirely if you think a nation might be after you.

 

[hot-gril]

It seems to me there are a number of candidates, but Israel is not likely to be one of them. According to Reuters, the targeted employees were based in Uganda, so whoever targeted the employees were likely interested in gaining information around US policy in that region. In addition, (per multiple press reports), past clients of NSO include Saudi Arabia, Mexico, and UAE. Saudi Arabia in particular allegedly leveraged NSO software a couple years ago to target Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist who was kidnapped at an embassy in Istanbul and dismembered.

It might not be Israel by itself, but there's no way NSO Group sells their exploits to just anyone who pays. There has to be an agreement between the two governments unless NSO is living really dangerously.

 

[SFjohn]

I would bet it was the NSA or FBI.

Homeland Security

 

[hot-gril]

The US spied on its allies so why not the other way round?

Fun fact, the US has spied on Israel before, but not really for malicious purposes. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/both-russia-and-us-spied-israels-nuclear-facilities-196952

 

[bradl]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

I think you don't understand what the phrase "state-sponsored" means in this context.

There are only 3 states that could handle this: confusion, euphoria, and insanity.

According to Genesis, confusion is a land, not a state, so we can rule them out.

The State of Euphoria is an Anthrax album that Def Leppard also lays claim to, so call that infighting; we can rule them out.

So that leaves Insanity.. yeah, my money is on Insanity.

😜

BL.

 

[SurferPup]

There are only 3 states that could handle this: confusion, euphoria, and insanity.

According to Genesis, confusion is a land, not state, do we can rule them out.

The State of Euphoria is an Anthrax album that Def Leppard also lays claim to, so call that infighting; we can rule them out.

So that leaves Insanity.. yeah, my money is on Insanity.

😜

BL.

Anyone suspect Belinda Carlisle?

 

[Unsupported]

What are the American interests there?

Do saving American lives count? 🤔

You know what's funny, Israel never even fought ISIS. US forces have fought them alongside Canadian, French, British, Iraqi, Australian, Peshmerga, PKK, YPG, FSA, Saudi, Turkish, and even Russian forces... but never Israeli.

Perhaps Israel has plenty to do defending itself from daily threats from Hamas, Hezbolah and others within it's territory without going abroad?

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

If the state department would actually do something.

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

It could be any state. But when someone finds out, they will be on thin ice.

 

[emulator]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

Israel, who else. Free Palestine!

 

[Unsupported]

I sure would like to know which state is sponsoring spying on American state dept officials. Anyone know?

If you look at all the available information it appears to be Uganda.

https://www.jpost.com/international/nso-used-to-hack-us-state-department-phones-report-687774

In a public response, NSO has said its technology helps stop terrorism and that they've installed controls to curb spying against innocent targets.

For example, NSO says its intrusion system cannot work on phones with US numbers beginning with the country code +1.

But in the Uganda case, the targeted State Department employees were using iPhones registered with foreign telephone numbers, said two of the sources, without the US country code.

Uganda has been roiled this year by an election with reported irregularities, protests and a government crackdown. US officials have tried to meet with opposition leaders, drawing ire from the Ugandan government.

 

[Unsupported]

Israel, who else. Free Palestine!

What does "Palestine" have to do with any of this? 🤔

 

[Unsupported]

Israel nearly owns the united states. They have the biggest lobby, AIPAC

Of course the Saudis don't count?

The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby

GIVEN MY DISSIDENT politics, I should be up in arms about the Israel lobby. Not only have I supported the civil rights of the Palestinians over the years, but two of my principal intellectual mentors were George W. Ball and Edward Said, both severe critics of Israel and its extra-special...

www.commondreams.org

Bottom line:

If you're naíve enough to believe that the Saudi king's rhetoric signifies a genuine break with the United States over Iraq, or anything else, then you might also believe that the Israel lobby is more powerful than the Saudi lobby. And if you think that Israeli security means more to George Bush than Saudi oil, then you might even believe that Bush saw 9/11 coming.

Do you even care about CAIR?

CAIR Positions on Israel and Jews (ADL)

cairunmasked.org

 

[hot-gril]

Do saving American lives count? 🤔

Perhaps Israel has plenty to do defending itself from daily threats from Hamas, Hezbolah and others within it's territory without going abroad?

Saving American lives doesn't count when they were put in harm's way defending Israel's interests in the first place. Like anti-Iran strikes that were met with attacks on American soldiers stationed in Iraq and Syria. And Israel does go abroad. They're heavily involved in anything pertaining to Iran, i.e. the first links you posted.

I've asked so many pro-Israel individuals why Israel matters to us and have only gotten two real answers, 1. the person is Jewish and understandably wants to support their homeland, 2. the person is part of a Protestant sect that interprets pieces of the Bible to mean something about keeping Jewish people in Israel.

 

[hot-gril]

Of course the Saudis don't count?

The Vast Power of the Saudi Lobby

GIVEN MY DISSIDENT politics, I should be up in arms about the Israel lobby. Not only have I supported the civil rights of the Palestinians over the years, but two of my principal intellectual mentors were George W. Ball and Edward Said, both severe critics of Israel and its extra-special...

www.commondreams.org

Bottom line:

If you're naíve enough to believe that the Saudi king's rhetoric signifies a genuine break with the United States over Iraq, or anything else, then you might also believe that the Israel lobby is more powerful than the Saudi lobby. And if you think that Israeli security means more to George Bush than Saudi oil, then you might even believe that Bush saw 9/11 coming.

Do you even care about CAIR?

CAIR Positions on Israel and Jews (ADL)

cairunmasked.org

The Saudis count too. Really the most toxic "ally" we have. They're also aligned with Israel aside from some fake rhetorical support for Palestine.

 

[hot-gril]

I think you don't understand what the phrase "state-sponsored" means in this context.

Probably Georgia... the state.