Citizen Lab and a Russian exile-led human rights group investigated spyware implanted on his phone after he was detained, beaten up and released.

The government-backed hackers exploited fake friends and family with spear-phishing lures, according to research published Wednesday.

The notorious Israeli spyware was used to target journalists often working in exile from their authoritarian home countries, report finds. 

Poland was once a “dark spot” on spyware abuse, but a probe, victim notifications and more has made it a potential model for other nations.

The lawsuit is the third against the Israeli firm in the U.S., but the first brought by journalists.

Spyware such as NSO Group-produced Pegasus is proliferating quickly and poses a threat to privacy and national security, experts said.

The crackdown on foreign commercial surveillance comes in the wake of high-profile attacks on diplomats and government officials abroad.

An Apple representative said that the company has alerted potential victims of highly targeted mercenary spyware in 150 countries.

Agents placed the spyware on her phone after seizing her from the Dubai airport in April 2018.

The notice validates, yet again, accusations that NSO Group's spyware is used to target journalists and political targets.