In this episode of Unlocked 403, Becks is joined by Lukas Stefanko, leading malware researcher at ESET, to unpack the evolution of espionage in the digital age — and how our smartphones became a new battleground.
They explore the shift from Cold War tactics to today’s silent threats, like spyware tools embedded in seemingly harmless apps. From the basics of what spyware is and how it operates, to real-world examples like BadBazaar and the infamous Pegasus, this conversation dives deep into how threat actors can turn phones into surveillance devices.
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Topics:
(00:00) – Intro
(00:56) – Meet Lukas Stefanko
(01:36) – Espionage: Then & Now
(02:58) – Today’s Cyber Espionage Tools
(03:57) – What Is Spyware?
(05:58) – How Spyware Infects Devices
(08:48) – Are Smartphones More Vulnerable?
(12:37) – The BadBazaar Espionage Tool
(17:34) – How Long Does Spyware Stay Active?
(21:28) – Pegasus: Mobile Surveillance at Scale
(24:36) – Government Use of Pegasus
(26:30) – Can Spyware Tools Be Regulated?
(27:18) – Removing Spyware from Your Device
(30:10) – What About Military-Grade Spyware?
(31:17) – Top 3 Tips to Stay Safe Online
(32:45) – Outro
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