NSO Group Finds US Buyer

The notorious Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group, creator of the Pegasus malware, is being acquired by a US-based investment group. The firm, which has faced significant financial and legal challenges following lawsuits from Apple and WhatsApp, is being purchased in a deal reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars. The investment group is led by Robert Simonds, a movie producer known for films like Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison. This sale marks a significant shift in ownership for the controversial company, pending final approval from Israel’s Defense Export Control Agency.

This Week in Cyber: DHS Shake-up, Discord Breach, and More

In other major security news, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been reassigning hundreds of senior national security and cybersecurity specialists to roles focused on the administration’s mass deportation agenda. Staff from critical agencies like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are reportedly affected, raising concerns about the nation’s cyber defense capabilities.

Meanwhile, a data breach at a third-party service provider for Discord exposed the sensitive information of over 70,000 users. The compromised data, collected for age verification, included identification documents, selfies, and personal contact details. Attackers are now reportedly attempting to extort Discord with the stolen information. On a more positive note, Apple announced an expansion of its bug bounty program, offering a maximum payout of $2 million for exploits that could be used to distribute spyware, with bonuses for vulnerabilities found in its Lockdown Mode.

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/happy-gilmore-producer-buys-spyware-maker-nso-group/