Switzerland reportedly uses Israeli spyware

The Confederation uses an Israeli spy software of the Pegasus type, revealed the RTS Wednesday evening, in its information newspaper of "19:30". Its use would be reserved for “serious” cases, specifies the chain. The principle would be exactly the same as for Pegasus, a digital weapon which has made it possible to spy on hundreds of personalities and whose name made the headlines last month. The technology makes it possible to infect a target's phone without their knowledge by making them open a malicious link on which they are led to click in order to obtain access to all their communications and information.

Authorities declined to give more information about the software used. “For reasons of protection of the tactics of investigation, and according to the contractual methods, we do not give any details on the technology used”, declared the federal police with the public channel. It specifies that the software is used in a “targeted” way for extremely serious offenses such as murder, rape and support for terrorist organizations. Justice would have used this software only 12 times in 2019 and 13 times the following year.

Read also: Pegasus, the diplomatic weapon of Israel

The "Project Pegasus", an international journalistic investigation, revealed that eleven States had used the Israeli spyware of the same name to monitor activists, political opponents, journalists or heads of state. Over 50,000 potential target phone numbers were reportedly infected. Easy to install and almost impossible to detect, the software, developed by the Israeli company NSO Group, was also capable of remotely activating the phone's microphone and camera.

Since March 1, 2018 and the entry into force of the revision of the law on the surveillance of correspondence by post and telecommunications, it has been possible for the Confederation to use software called "government software" (GovWare) and IMSI-catchers (hidden antennae that allow spying on or locating cell phones) in criminal proceedings.

Also Read: How to Attempt to Protect Against Pegasus Spyware