# Watchdog warned UK government of spyware infections inside 10 Downing Street
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-04-18
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: UK Government Hacked: Citizen Lab Reveals Pegasus Spyware
Meta Description: Citizen Lab warns of Israeli-made spy software on UK official networks, including PM's office. NSO denies allegations, hacking linked to various countries.
URL: https://financedigest.com/watchdog-warned-uk-government-of-spyware-infections-inside-10-downing-streethtml

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By Christopher Bing

(Reuters) – Digital rights watchdog group Citizen Lab said on Monday it had warned British officials that electronic devices connected to government networks, including some inside the prime minister’s office and foreign ministry, appeared to be infected with Israeli-made spy software.

The spy software is known as Pegasus, a product of Israeli cyberarms dealer NSO Group, according to a blog post published by Citizen Lab.

We confirm that in 2020 and 2021 we observed and notified the government of the United Kingdom of multiple suspected instances of Pegasus spyware infections within official UK networks,” the [blog post](https://www.financedigest.com/how-to-create-backlinks-for-your-blog-posts.html "How To Create Backlinks For Your Blog Posts") reads.

An NSO spokesperson said the [allegations are “false](https://www.financedigest.com/philips-subsidiary-to-pay-over-24-million-for-alleged-false-claims-for-medical-equipment.html "Philips subsidiary to pay over  million for alleged false claims for medical equipment") and could not be related to NSO products for technological and contractual reasons.

A British [government spokesperson said “we do not routinely comment on security](https://www.financedigest.com/securing-the-future-of-eu-workers-in-britain-ahead-of-the-government-crackdown.html "Securing The Future Of EU Workers In Britain Ahead Of The Government Crackdown") matters.

Citizen Lab said it believed the targeting [connected to the prime minister’s office](https://www.financedigest.com/international-law-firm-calls-in-viato-connect-uk-and-us-offices.html "INTERNATIONAL LAW FIRM CALLS IN VIATO CONNECT UK AND US OFFICES") was done by NSO clients in the United Arab Emirates while the British foreign ministry hacking came from other countries, including Cyprus, Jordan and India.

[Government spokespeople for the United Arab](https://www.financedigest.com/imf-amf-afesd-and-government-of-morocco-to-host-regional-conference-opportunity-for-all-promoting-growth-jobs-and-inclusiveness-in-the-arab-world.html "IMF, AMF, AFESD and Government of Morocco To Host Regional Conference: “Opportunity for All—Promoting Growth, Jobs, and Inclusiveness in the Arab World”") Emirates, Jordan, India and Cyprus did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Pegasus can be used to remotely break into iPhones, giving clients deep [access into a targeted phone’s memory or turning them into recording devices](https://www.financedigest.com/aws-customers-access-new-global-cellular-for-iot-devices.html "AWS Customers Access New Global Cellular for IoT Devices").

Citizen Lab found evidence of the compromised UK [devices by monitoring internet traffic and other digital](https://www.financedigest.com/the-clot-management-devices-market-to-be-digitally-absorbent.html "The Clot Management Devices Market to be digitally absorbent") signals to spy servers that control Pegasus for various NSO clients.

We identified infections emanating from those UK networks based on a variety of network scanning methods we use, and notified the relevant UK authorities of our suspicions at the [time for them to follow up,” Citizen Lab Director Ron Deibert wrote in the blog post](https://www.financedigest.com/whats-the-best-time-to-post-on-instagram.html "What’s the best time to post on Instagram"). “We did not have access to any devices, and do not have any information on specific victims.”

Citizen Lab is known as one of the leading research groups on mercenary spyware within the [cybersecurity industry](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-industry-must-simplify-cybersecurity.html "WHY THE INDUSTRY MUST SIMPLIFY CYBERSECURITY").

The hacking activity connected to the British prime minister’s office was investigated by the UK National [Cyber Security](https://www.financedigest.com/the-financial-services-industry-needs-to-get-serious-about-cyber-security-in-the-covid-19-era.html "The financial services industry needs to get serious about cyber security in the Covid-19 era") Centre, where technicians tested multiple phones to find malware, according to a New Yorker article about NSO Group also published on Monday, but the findings were inconclusive.

(Reporting by Christopher Bing; Editing by Howard Goller)


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