In recent times, the rise of perilous spyware has become an increasing source of concern. A notable instance is Pegasus, developed by the Israeli company NSO, which has been utilized against prominent figures such as professionals, business executives, journalists, and government officials. Previously, it was widely believed that such spyware predominantly targeted high-profile individuals. However, a recent report from the security research firm iVerify has unveiled a troubling trend: spyware like Pegasus is also capable of infecting the devices of average users.

The findings from iVerify call into question the assumption that Pegasus represented a rare, targeted threat confined to members of civil society, senior executives, or political figures. As part of its mobile threat detection program, the firm launched a new feature that allowed 2,500 users to participate in scanning their devices. Disturbingly, more than seven instances of Pegasus infections were identified on devices belonging to everyday individuals.

Why Is This A?Red Flag'?

Although the figure may appear modest, iVerify emphasizes this as a notable concern for mobile security. The infections reveal a complicated timeline, with some tracing back to late 2023 on iOS 16.6, others from November 2022 on iOS 15, and even earlier cases from 2021 and 2022 impacting iOS 14 and 15. Each infection signifies a device that may have been covertly monitored, with the potential for data breaches occurring without the owner's awareness.

"Our investigation identified 2.5 infected devices for every 1,000 scans, a rate considerably higher than any previously documented findings," stated the research group. They further noted, "These 2,500 devices represent demographics that are most likely to be targeted by sophisticated spyware."

Both Android And iOS Systems Affected

Both Android and iOS systems have been impacted, as noted by iVerify. The investigation revealed the presence of five types of malware across these platforms, identified through diagnostic data, shutdown logs, and crash reports. This finding indicates that average users are not safe from spyware, which was previously believed to be aimed solely at high-profile individuals. It is essential to stay alert, observe your smartphone for any unusual activity, and contemplate utilizing spyware detection tools such as those provided by iVerify.

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