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This quote in the article seems overly optimistic: > "While Google does not permit the sale of such apps on its Google Play app store, Android phones commonly

This quote in the article seems overly optimistic: > "While Google does not permit the sale of such apps on its Google Play app store, Android phones commonly allow such invasive apps to be downloaded separately via the Web. The iPhone, in comparison, does not allow such “side loading” and thus consumer spyware apps on this platform tend to be far more limited and less invasive in capabilities." Recommended: https://citizenlab.ca/2021/12/pegasus-vs-predator-dissidents-doubly-infected-iphone-reveals-cytrox-mercenary-spyware/ https://citizenlab.ca/2021/12/pegasus-vs-predator-dissidents... > "After confirming forensic traces of Pegasus on Nour’s iPhone, we identified the presence of additional spyware, which we attribute with high confidence to Cytrox. We further conclude with high confidence that it is unrelated to Pegasus spyware."

CharlesW 4y ago
Once an iPhone is jailbroken, yes — anything goes. The paper describes an Android attack that just requires an app install that "[does] not require specialized technical know-how to deploy or operate".
- paulmd 4y ago
  or more generally when you're going up against nation-state level actors, such as in your link. In that case yeah all bets are off, NSA and Mossad (and places commercializing technology developed for them) are gonna get in your phone if they want to. But this is still qualitatively different from android where the threat model is "connect USB cable and run ADB command", if even that much.
  - hot_gril 4y ago
    At the end of the day, tech-illiterate people are gonna get spyware onto their Android phones much more easily. If a website tells them to download some app directly and ignore any warnings about it being untrusted, they'll do it.