Pegasus, NoviSpy variant spyware found on devices of Serbian activists
Researchers confirmed the first 2026 Pegasus infection and a new NoviSpy variant on 14 Serbian activists, likely surveillance by Serbian authorities ahead of elections.
Citizen Lab confirmed with high probability the first forensically confirmed Pegasus infection of 2026, on a Serbian student activist hacked via a zero-click exploit between December of last year and January. Amnesty International confirmed two devices infected with a new NoviSpy variant, and the SHARE Foundation documented 14 targets including a member of parliament and a local government official, the largest documented spyware wave in Serbia to date. Evidence points to Serbian police or intelligence services, with NoviSpy infections occurring around police detention ahead of key local and parliamentary elections. Apple threat notifications preceded the findings, and updated iOS versions break the exploit chain.
- 14 targets included one member of parliament, a local official, and student activists
- NoviSpy infections followed police questioning and disclosure of private messages by a loyalist outlet
- Pegasus delivered via zero-click exploit; Apple's iOS updates break this exploit
- Largest documented spyware surveillance wave in Serbia to date, ahead of March elections
- Threat actors
- Serbian police or secret service
- Victims
- Serbian student activists
- Countries
- Serbia
From the original article
4 min read at cyberscoop.com
It’s the first Pegasus infection of 2026 that Citizen Lab is forensically confirming, and the SHARE Foundation said it’s the biggest wave of spyware surveillance in Serbia yet. The post Pegasus, NoviSpy variant spyware found on devices of Serbian activists appeared first on CyberScoop.
By Tim Starks · cyberscoop.com
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