Pegasus is spyware developed by NSO Group and used to target smartphones.
Pegasus is designed for covert surveillance of mobile devices. Depending on the version and circumstances, it has exploited vulnerabilities in smartphone operating systems and messaging applications. Some attacks used zero-click techniques, which did not require the target to tap a malicious link.
Reports by researchers and journalists have linked Pegasus infections or targeting attempts to phones belonging to journalists, activists, lawyers, and political figures. NSO Group has said it sells the technology to government customers for investigating serious crime and terrorism, while rights organizations have raised concerns about misuse and oversight.
Pegasus is distinct from ordinary consumer spyware and from the names of other surveillance products. Its capabilities can include accessing messages, files, microphones, cameras, and location data when an infection succeeds.