Investigation Reveals Use of Spyware in Azerbaijan-Armenia Conflict

A comprehensive investigation reveals the alleged use of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware as a weapon in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict.
The Pegasus spyware grants extensive access to infected devices, enabling remote activation of microphones and cameras.
The investigation highlights the invasion of privacy, suppression of free speech, and human rights violations online.

While Azerbaijan and Armenia are at war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, there has been a troubling discovery of the usage of spyware in the ongoing conflict.

"Hacking in a war zone: Pegasus spyware in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict," a comprehensive investigation by non-profit organization Access Now and its partners, found allegations of NSO Group's Pegasus spyware being used as a weapon in this international military conflict, Tech Times reported.

This study was produced in partnership with Access Now, Ruben Muradyan, the Citizen Lab, Amnesty International's Security Lab, CyberHUB-AM, and others.

This revelation is the first known instance of spyware use in a global battle involving two sovereign entities. The Access Now study sheds light on the scope and gravity of online privacy invasion, free speech suppression, and human rights violation.

According to the research, this spyware has affected at least 12 civil society members, including journalists, human rights advocates, activists, professors, and one UN official.

A Despicable Strategy

The former human rights advocate for the Republic of Armenia, Kristinne Grigoryan, who spoke out against the purported atrocities perpetrated by Azerbaijani troops against Armenian soldiers, was a supposed target. Karlen Aslanyan, a journalist from RFE/RL's Armenian Service and a popular political program presenter, was also monitored using the Pegasus spyware.

Additionally, Anna Naghdalyan, a representative of an NGO and a former Republic of Armenia spokesperson engaged in delicate discussions and talks about the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute, was one of the victims.

Natalia Krapiva, Access Now's Tech-Legal Counsel, condemned the use of Pegasus spyware to attack individuals "experiencing violence" as a "despicable act."

An inquiry was launched after Apple released a warning in November 2021 alerting people to possible state-sponsored spyware targeting. Armenian civil society members asked CyberHUB-AM and Access Now's Digital Security Helpline to inspect their devices for malware.

Neither the Azerbaijani government nor NSO Group has yet responded to these charges.

Pegasus infections are known as "zero-click" assaults, which implies that victims do not need to read shady emails or click on harmful links to get infected. Citizen Lab's senior researcher John Scott-Railton noted that "no behavior" could shield targets from a Pegasus spyware attack, per Wire.

Pegasus Spyware: A Powerful Weapon

Governments have used Pegasus against their people, notably activists and journalists, but its cross-border usage in war raises issues. Scott-Railton believes NSO's efforts extend beyond providing software to fight crime and terrorism.

Pegasus malware allows practically full access to the compromised mobile device, including the capacity to turn on the microphone or camera, turning the handset into a secretive surveillance tool. According to Scott-Railton, this skill could affect or influence how a dispute plays out.

According to NSO Group, it looks into verifiable complaints about government customers misusing their spyware, per The Guardian.

The Biden administration banned NSO Group in 2021 after the commerce department uncovered evidence of NSO Group selling its technologies to foreign countries aimed at government officials, journalists, businesses, activists, and diplomatic personnel.