Apple files lawsuit against NSO Group over security issues

Three years later, however, Apple has decided to change course. According to the Washington PostApple asked a court on Friday to dismiss the lawsuit entirely.

Apple may justify this by saying that the information provided in the lawsuit could be more damaging to its security.

The complaint argues that Apple may not be able to secure its most important files through NSO’s Pegasus surveillance tool, while its own disclosures may inadvertently help NSO and other rival spyware makers develop new spying tools that compromise Apple’s security.

The request comes eight months after NSO Group asked the court to move the lawsuit to its home country of Israel. However, a U.S. district court denied the request and also blocked NSO’s attempt to drop the lawsuit altogether.

While Apple’s lawsuit may be a reason for NSO to feel victorious, the lawsuit took its toll on the company. Although Pegasus is known as an iOS hacking tool, the group’s influence and power in the industry has diminished significantly.

The lawsuit originally sought to hold NSO Group accountable for monitoring some Apple users and to obtain an injunction against NSO prohibiting the use of any Apple software, services or devices.

With Apple’s products and infrastructure increasingly under threat since the litigation began, the company probably has more important things to do now.