Researchers at iVerify have discovered a potentially higher prevalence of spyware infections than previously thought. A study involving 2,500 users and scanning of their mobile devices revealed 7 Pegasus spyware infections among the group.
The investigation found that nearly 2.5 infected devices were detected per 1,000 scans, significantly higher than any previous reports. This rate is concerning, even considering that the participants were self-selected from a population more likely to be targeted for such infections.
Lead researcher Rocky Cole states that commercial spyware is far more prevalent than people assume. The study’s findings contradict the prevailing narrative that spyware is niche and only affects specific groups, such as journalists and activists.
The 7 infected devices were located outside the US, primarily in Europe, the Middle East, and countries in the Global South. The victims included business leaders who were not overtly involved in politics. The infections occurred between 2021 and 2023, with the study conducted in May of this year.
Notably, the scans used threat signatures from reputable groups, such as those discovered by University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab. Almost all the infections left identifiable traces and did not indicate that the spyware was still active on the devices.
Source: https://cyberscoop.com/study-shows-potentially-higher-prevalence-of-spyware-infections-than-previously-thought