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Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

techcrunch.com

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Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#31

Post by gdubya »

kruffalon wrote: post #25
isodev wrote: post #4

I always wondered how the software people who work in places like this live with themselves. Is it some sort of “enough money can make me forget and look myself in the mirror” situation?

To me it looks very much like a scale... Anyone that works at FAANG or "big"/mobile game studios, anything to do with advertising, banking, natural resources extraction/processing, non-sustansible farming, etc, etc. In my opinion there are not many constructive things you can work with that really improve society or peoples lives. But then again I'm in a quite dark place this year.

Public sector? In my country working for the energy grid operator feels like a constructive and positive contribution.

Sorry about your dark place. Keep looking for the light!

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#32

Post by smt88 »

p0w3n3d wrote: post #10

Investors: you must care of the planet, not emit any CO2 and not launder any money Also investors: let's invest in hacker business and break into all phones in the world

The first statement doesn’t sound like anything a professional investor would ever say

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#33

Post by smt88 »

eastbound wrote: post #30
isodev wrote: post #4

I always wondered how the software people who work in places like this live with themselves. Is it some sort of “enough money can make me forget and look myself in the mirror” situation?

> look myself in the mirror Outcasts. You know, some people aren’t gratified by society. Even well-inserted people. I’ve always wondered why people had ethical questions as soldiers dropping Little Boy. Imagine being a soldier at war, of course you hate your enemies. Now imagine being bullied at school and later. Some criminals even literally do crime for the thrills. Life isn’t generally rewarding, except for a few…

I think you’re dramatically overstating the number of true misanthropes in the world

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#34

Post by robotwizard »

sofixa wrote: post #2

> After sending the messages, Hershowitz declared his comments “off the record,” which requires both parties to agree to the terms in advance. TechCrunch is publishing the responses as there was no agreement made What a failure for a spokesperson.

Haha, but it's crazy to go ahead and publish despite being told not to, by a company that can hack you with almost 100% certainty.

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#35

Post by sofixa »

robotwizard wrote: post #34
sofixa wrote: post #2

> After sending the messages, Hershowitz declared his comments “off the record,” which requires both parties to agree to the terms in advance. TechCrunch is publishing the responses as there was no agreement made What a failure for a spokesperson.

Haha, but it's crazy to go ahead and publish despite being told not to, by a company that can hack you with almost 100% certainty.

But hacking TechCrunch would be a major PR disaster for NSO (again), so maybe they would abstain.

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#36

Post by worldsavior »

isodev wrote: post #4

I always wondered how the software people who work in places like this live with themselves. Is it some sort of “enough money can make me forget and look myself in the mirror” situation?

The company exists to fight illegal activities. Maybe there are governments that abuse this service, but it's not NSO's job to fight this. They're a company and they want to make money. How are they different from Google or other companies? When Google wants to keep you on your phone it becomes OK? When food industries make sugar-full beverages it's OK?

There are also many governments that use this tool to combat terror or drug dealers and more.

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#37

Post by stingraycharles »

smt88 wrote: post #32
p0w3n3d wrote: post #10

Investors: you must care of the planet, not emit any CO2 and not launder any money Also investors: let's invest in hacker business and break into all phones in the world

The first statement doesn’t sound like anything a professional investor would ever say

You’re being downvoted but in the end I don’t believe in altruistic investors: in the end it’s about money.

There’s a reason government need to hand out tax benefits for people to invest into eco-friendly companies.

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#38

Post by phoronixrly »

worldsavior wrote: post #36
isodev wrote: post #4

I always wondered how the software people who work in places like this live with themselves. Is it some sort of “enough money can make me forget and look myself in the mirror” situation?

The company exists to fight illegal activities. Maybe there are governments that abuse this service, but it's not NSO's job to fight this. They're a company and they want to make money. How are they different from Google or other companies? When Google wants to keep you on your phone it becomes OK? When food industries make sugar-full beverages it's OK? There are also many governments that use this tool to combat ter…

Nobody stipulated that working for an unethical company like FAANG was OK.

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#39

Post by phoronixrly »

silisili wrote: post #29
isodev wrote: post #4

I always wondered how the software people who work in places like this live with themselves. Is it some sort of “enough money can make me forget and look myself in the mirror” situation?

You can say this about most of tech. Sure, we agree spying is bad. But, is it worse than ad tech at large? Is it worse than companies addicting people to their phones via psychological tricks at alarming rates? Or siphoning money from kids via freemium models? Or working on a chatbot that helps kids kill themselves? Or the gazillion payday loan apps? Or the gazillion prediction market/sports betting avenues? I'm sure…

No, it's not. Is what the conpany doing ethical? No? Hard pass.

Re: Spyware maker NSO Group confirms acquisition by US investors

#40

Post by baobun »

"Tens of millions" for controlling stake in NSO is like an order of magnitude less than what I'd imagine in todays environment. Comes off as cheap.

Have their capabilities been overplayed? Is selling done under pressure? Are they not actually sitting on big bank and procurement network of valuable 0days?

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