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Darknet Diaries #100 · August 31, 2021 · 68m

NSO

Episode 100 dives deep into NSO Group and its Pegasus spyware — the most sophisticated surveillance tool ever created. Rhysider traces how a small Israeli company built software capable of remotely accessing any iPhone or Android device, and how governments weaponized it against journalists, activists, and political opponents.

Canon

Rhysider notes that Pegasus was a zero-click exploit — targets couldn't protect themselves because no user action was required for infection. The dichotomy of control collapses when the attacker operates at a level beyond the defender's capacity.

Highlights

The power to surveil anyone creates irresistible temptation — every government that bought Pegasus abused it
Rhysider documents how every government that purchased Pegasus spyware — including democracies — used it against journalists, dissidents, and political opponents, not just terrorists.