Israeli governments have in recent years rejected requests from Ukraine and Estonia to use NSO’s offensive spyware, Pegasus, on Russian phone numbers, according to a New York Times report.
According to the report, Israel did not approve of them using the offensive spyware for fear of damaging relations with the Kremlin. Both countries tried to gain intelligence about Russia’s intentions before it invaded Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense reportedly refused to approve NSO export licenses for the software because its intended use was Russian.
NSO, founded in 2010, manufactures offensive cyber products known as Pegasus software, which is classified in Israel as a “security tool.” Pegasus allows hacking into mobile phones and computers and listening to them without the knowledge of their owners. The company exports its software under an arms trade license granted to it by the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.