Ideas Spyware abusers can easily hack your phone and surveil you
8 snips
Apr 15, 2025 
Ron Deibert, founder of the Citizen Lab and author of 'Chasing Shadows', delves into the alarming world of digital surveillance. He reveals how sophisticated spyware like Pegasus can infiltrate any phone globally, leaving us all vulnerable. Deibert discusses the ethical challenges tech firms face while aiding authoritarian regimes and emphasizes the need for protective measures for activists. He also addresses the disturbing merger of social media with surveillance, showcasing a landscape where personal safety is increasingly compromised.
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How Citizen Lab Detects Spyware
- Citizen Lab helps people detect and analyze spyware infections on their phones through crash logs.
- They run events like spyware checking booths to quickly inform affected individuals of surveillance.
Activist Risks for Security Gains
- Activist Ahmed Mansour alerted Citizen Lab to critical iPhone vulnerabilities but remains jailed and tortured.
- His bravery protected global security though most remain unaware of his sacrifice.
Social Media Fuels Surveillance
- Social media's design for massive data harvesting fuels surveillance and influence operations.
- This business model underpins widespread cyber exploitation and societal manipulation.
