# Apple Suddenly Drops NSO Group Spyware Lawsuit **URL:** https://discuss.privacyguides.net/t/apple-suddenly-drops-nso-group-spyware-lawsuit/20910 **Category:** General **Created:** 2024-09-15T15:39:58Z **Posts:** 14 ## Post 1 by @jerm — 2024-09-15T15:39:58Z > Apple has abruptly withdrawn its lawsuit against NSO Group, citing increased risk that the legal battle might unintentionally reveal sensitive vulnerability data to the very adversaries involved in the legal dispute. [https://www.securityweek.com/apple-suddenly-drops-nso-group-spyware-lawsuit/](https://www.securityweek.com/apple-suddenly-drops-nso-group-spyware-lawsuit/) --- ## Post 2 by @jonah — 2024-09-15T16:08:52Z I guess that’s one way to become legally untouchable :thinking: --- ## Post 3 by @ignoramous — 2024-09-16T14:58:58Z > [@jonah](#): > > one way to become legally untouchable Concerning, since technical-only solutions won’t thwart a nation state actor. Google, on paper at least, has been locking up Android, which is routinely pwned by memory-related exploits, by replacing C/C++ with memory-safe Rust and _private compute_ (ex: mutually untrusted VMs aka _pKVM_). That alone won’t ever be enough, but will definitely make it expensive for CSVs (commercial surveillance vendors) like the NSO group to come up with zero-days. --- ## Post 4 by @anon23293884 — 2024-09-16T17:49:04Z Good evening, I would be grateful if you would pay attention to my message. Which set of measures do you think might be more productive? Wouldn’t a closed hearing at least partially resolve the issue? I mean Is there a legal or procedural solution to the issue that Apple has identified as the reason for dropping the lawsuit? The problem has both technical and legal dimensions and obtaining information from NSO Group is a challenging equation, but Apple has the resources and determination to overcome this challenge, don’t you think so? --- ## Post 5 by @bigdzi — 2024-09-16T18:21:31Z > [@jonah](#): > > legally untouchable How much untouchability costs? There will always be someone who will try to make them touchable. For (much) more money ofc --- ## Post 7 by @ignoramous — 2024-09-16T20:10:15Z > [@anon23293884](#): > > Apple has the resources and determination to overcome this challenge Apple can’t risk going up against the military-industrial complex, I don’t think. In fact, I’d _not_ be surprised if it itself is found to be a part of it. > [@hbxc0re](#): > > NSO Group is based in Israel, I’m sure AIPAC or some politican paid someone off Don’t presume they need anything of the sort. Don’t mean to sound grim or dramatic, but CSVs supply key tech to an immense powerbase (dictators, authoritarian head of states, far-right nationalists, over-reaching billionaires) that when put together rule most of the world. --- ## Post 8 by @anon80779245 — 2024-09-16T21:33:27Z > [@anon23293884](#): > > Apple has the resources and determination to overcome this challenge, don’t you think so? But do they have reasons to ? Apple probably does this for PR, as all their talks about Privacy is MOSTLY marketing. --- ## Post 9 by @bigdzi — 2024-09-16T22:54:37Z > [@anon80779245](#): > > But do they have reasons to ? There always is a reason… --- ## Post 10 by @Quantum — 2024-09-17T04:06:14Z There is enough tinfoil in here to bake a truck load of potatoes. Apples reasoning here is straight forward, no need for conspiracies. Also the U.S. government views NSO as an adversary and malicious actor, hence the sanctions. --- ## Post 11 by @ignoramous — 2024-09-17T09:20:47Z > [@Quantum](#): > > Apples reasoning here is straight forward Why are Google not giving up? [Hacking Policy Council](https://www.centerforcybersecuritypolicy.org/hacking-policy-council) As another user mentioned, Apple is _all_ about marketing. > [@Quantum](#): > > Also the U.S. government views NSO as an adversary and malicious actor, hence the sanctions Isn’t stopping them (and it can’t since their customer base is beyond US’ economic reach): [State-backed attackers and commercial surveillance vendors repeatedly use the same exploits](https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/state-backed-attackers-and-commercial-surveillance-vendors-repeatedly-use-the-same-exploits/) --- ## Post 12 by @anon48875053 — 2024-09-17T09:45:32Z > [@ignoramous](#): > > As another user mentioned, Apple is _all_ about marketing. That’s why Apple ecosystem is treated as a “privacy respecting” alternative. --- ## Post 13 by @overdrawn98901 — 2024-09-17T14:16:00Z > [@Quantum](#): > > There is enough tinfoil in here to bake a truck load of potatoes. This made me chuckle quite a bit. --- ## Post 14 by @gregandcin — 2024-09-17T16:13:17Z > [@ignoramous](#): > > Why are Google not giving up? Google could potentially get into a lawsuit with the NSO or other CSVs and be in less of a bad spot because AOSP is an open system which they build upon for their phones and other services. Unless Google Play Services or some other closed source service in a device is used as an attack vector, Google have less to lose than Apple does.