The United States has added NSO Group to a commercial blacklist after considering that its activities are contrary to the national security of the country. It’s about the Israeli company behind the software Pegasus used to hack phones of journalists, businessmen, activists and government officials.
According to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the Department of Commerce, both Pegasus and a tool called Candiru have been used to carry out malicious attacks. Along these lines, he assures that they have also “allowed foreign governments to carry out transnational repression” and thus have threatened the international order based on rules.
Positive Technologies (Russia) and Computer Security Initiative Consultancy (Singapore) were also added to the BIS business blacklist. The BIS says their behavior threatens the privacy and security of individuals and organizations around the world. They are mainly accused of possessing cyber tools used to obtain unauthorized access to systems.
What is the United States trade blacklist?
Pegasus, Candiru, Positive Technologies and Computer Security Initiative Consultancy are now part of a commercial blacklist. It restricts exports, re-exports, and transfers within the United States. However, there is a license review policy that in the future could reverse the denial recently awarded to these entities.
“This effort aims to improve the digital security of citizens, combat cyber threats and mitigate illegal surveillance. This follows a recent interim final rule published by the Commerce Department that establishes export controls.”
Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS)
NSO, espionage and Pegasus
Pegasus, NSO’s military-grade spyware, has been used to breach the security of iOS and Android smartphones. Among them, those belonging to 37 journalists, human rights defenders, politicians and other figures.
The company has said in the past that It only sells this software to duly verified government entities. He has also indicated that he refuses to distribute it to clients whose actions go against Human Rights. However, an investigation led by international newspapers says otherwise.
The existence of this type of tool is alarming in itself. In many cases, victims do not even realize that their device has been hacked. The tool is capable of accessing personal data, chats of messaging services, as well as activating cameras, microphones and geolocation functions.