Does Hermit, the Pegasus-like spyware targeted Android, iOS devices?

Tuesday, 28 June 2022newsdesk

‘Hermit’ is the latest sophisticated spyware in the news, and it is believed to have targeted iPhones and Android devices in Italy and Kazakhstan. Hermit’s deployment – the spyware has been developed by an Italian vendor called RCS Lab – was first reported by cyber security researchers at the Lookout, a San-Francisco-based cybersecurity firm.

New Delhi, 28 June 2022

As per news report of The Indian Express, then Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) put out a detailed blog post last week, explaining how they believed Hermit was used to target devices. Hermit is a spyware on the lines of Pegasus by NSO Group. Once installed on a device, it can record audio on the device, carry out unauthorised calls, and carry out many unauthorised activities. According to Lookout, the spyware can steal stored account emails, contacts, browser bookmarks/searches, calendar events, etc. It can also take pictures on the device, steal device information such as details about applications, the kernel information, model, manufacturer, OS, security patch, phone number, etc. It can also download and install APK (the app software files on Android) on a compromised phone.

Source -The Indian Express