REVEALED: Israeli firm behind Pegasus spyware used to hack US journalists, politicians and widow of Jamal Khashoggi also paid Biden adviser Anita Dunn for political consulting advice

The private firm that allegedly developed a spyware used to hack journalists, politicians and activists had previously launched a public relations crusade led by SKDKnickerbocker, of which senior adviser Anita Dunn is the managing director.

NSO group hired SKDKnickerbocker in spring of 2019 to coordinate its public relations efforts and save its reputation after lawsuits alleged that its software was being used to spy on journalists and political dissidents.

Targets included friends of Saudi-born Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi before his murder by a Suadi hit squad in 2018. 

The use of the software, called Pegasus and developed by Israel's NSO group, was reported on by the Washington Post, the Guardian, Le Monde and other news outlets who collaborated on an investigation into a data leak. 

The leak was of a list of up to 50,000 phone numbers believed to have been identified as people of interest by clients of NSO since 2016.

One of those targeted was Khashoggi's wife Hanan Elatr. Her phone - as well as that of a second female associate - was allegedly targeted before his death. 

The Washington Post was one of the first outlets to break the story, publishing a 4,000-word dive into the spyware and its influence. 

However, the article failed to include any information about NSO's ties to President Joe Biden's senior adviser.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9801185/Israeli-firm-Pegasus-spyware-paid-Biden-adviser-Anita-Dunn-PR-advice.html