ISLAMABAD – The Cabinet Division has reportedly directed the seniorgovernment and military officials to immediately replace their cell phonespurchased before May 10, 2019, due to fears of data being stolen by foreignspy companies.
These instructions have been issued by the Secretary Cabinet to allconcerned Ministries and Departments for strict compliance.
According to the letter sent by Secretary Cabinet, it has been reportedthat hostile intelligence agencies have developed technical capabilitiesand means to gain access to sensitive information stored in mobile phonesof officials of government departments/ institutions and Ministries.
These spyware companies are using hacking software/applications such as“chat line” and “Pegasus” malware on WhatsApp of target mobile phones (iOSand Android) to gain access to sensitive information stored on them. Themalware is capable to infect any mobile phone (iOS and Android) bygenerating missed calls on target WhatsApp numbers.
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This “Pegasus” malware has infected approximately 1400 senior governmentand military officials in 20 countries including Pakistan. Hostile spywarecompanies such as Israel based NSO Group have been sued by WhatsApp/Facebook in the US court of San Francisco for “violating both US andCalifornia law as well as WhatsApp terms of service,”
Although advisory on this issue has also been issued to all governmentdepartments/ Ministries by NTISB, Cabinet Division, in order to minimizethe possibility of any infection by Pegasus malware, senior governmentofficials holding sensitive portfolios/dealing with national securitymatters have been advised the same.