NSO Group

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Israeli cyber-intelligence company best known for Pegasus, a government-focused mobile-device spyware platform.

Last updated November 3, 2026

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Overview

NSO Group Technologies is an Israeli cyber-intelligence and cyber-arms company founded in 2010 by Niv Karmi, Shalev Hulio, and Omri Lavie. The company takes its name from the founders’ initials and became internationally known for Pegasus, a spyware platform designed to provide authorized government customers with remote access to mobile devices. NSO says its products are intended to help governments investigate terrorism and serious crime, that it sells only to government agencies, and that customers are contractually required to use the technology lawfully. Pegasus has nevertheless become one of the most controversial surveillance products in the world because investigations by researchers, journalists, and rights organizations have linked it to the targeting or attempted targeting of journalists, human-rights defenders, political opponents, and dissidents. The founders had previously worked on CommuniTake, a company whose technology allowed support personnel to access a customer’s phone with the customer’s permission. After interest from a European intelligence agency, they pursued a different model: tools that could obtain access without the device owner’s cooperation. Karmi brought military-intelligence and intelligence-community experience, while Hulio and Lavie developed the commercial venture. The first version of Pegasus was completed in 2011. NSO’s technology has generally relied on sophisticated vulnerabilities, including so-called zero-click exploits that can compromise a phone without the user opening a malicious link. The company has maintained laboratories containing numerous phones for testing new vulnerabilities and adapting its tools as manufacturers issue security updates. Pegasus is treated by Israel as a military export. Sales therefore require approval from Israel’s Ministry of Defense, giving the Israeli state substantial influence over which governments can acquire and use the system. Reporting has described Pegasus sales as intersecting with Israeli diplomatic priorities, while NSO has denied that it functions as an instrument of Israeli diplomacy and has denied installing a government back door. Export restrictions and allegations of misuse have made the relationship between NSO, its customers, and regulators a continuing subject of public scrutiny. The company expanded rapidly after receiving seed funding led by Genesis Partners. Francisco Partners acquired NSO in 2014, and in 2019 sold a majority stake back to co-founders Hulio and Lavie with financial backing from Novalpina Capital. A dispute among Novalpina’s founders later resulted in Berkeley Research Group taking control of assets connected with the investment vehicle. During 2021 and 2022, NSO faced financial pressure, U.S. sanctions, lawsuits, and difficulty entering the American market. It also restructured and reduced its workforce while attempting to prioritize customers in NATO countries. Hulio left the chief executive role in 2022, and later reporting described further ownership and control disputes. The company remains a private, export-controlled provider of surveillance technology, but its commercial prospects and ownership have been repeatedly affected by legal, regulatory, and reputational challenges.

History

NSO Group was established in Israel in 2010 by Niv Karmi, Shalev Hulio, and Omri Lavie. Hulio and Lavie had previously founded CommuniTake, which supplied remote technical-support access to mobile devices when users granted permission. Interest from an intelligence customer led them toward a more powerful model capable of covert access. Karmi, whose background included Israeli military intelligence and the Mossad, joined the venture. Pegasus reached an initial operational form in 2011. The company built its reputation around finding and operationalizing previously unknown vulnerabilities in mobile operating systems. Its tools could, in some circumstances, compromise a device without requiring the target to click a link. NSO presented this capability as an investigative tool for government agencies combating terrorism and serious crime. The company has said it sells to governments rather than private individuals and that customers are subject to use restrictions. The technology’s classification as an Israeli military export means that sales require government authorization. Genesis Partners provided early funding, reportedly investing $1.8 million for a 30 percent stake. NSO’s revenues grew substantially as governments adopted its products. Francisco Partners purchased the company in 2014 for $130 million and subsequently pursued a much higher valuation. NSO had grown from roughly 50 employees in 2014 to nearly 500 by 2017, with many technical staff recruited from Israeli military-intelligence and cyber-training programs. Circles, a company producing mobile geolocation technology, was acquired by Francisco Partners in 2014 and became affiliated with NSO. In February 2019, Francisco Partners sold a majority stake back to Hulio and Lavie, with Novalpina Capital supporting the transaction. The deal valued NSO at approximately $1 billion. That year, WhatsApp and Facebook sued NSO in the United States, alleging abuse of WhatsApp infrastructure to deliver spyware. Subsequent investigations connected Pegasus to surveillance of journalists, activists, and dissidents in multiple countries, intensifying pressure on NSO and the governments that licensed its products. In 2021, a global investigation known as the Pegasus Project publicized a list of phone numbers selected for potential targeting and generated further scrutiny. Apple filed suit against NSO, and the U.S. government placed the company on its Entity List. The designation restricted U.S. companies from supplying NSO and severely complicated any attempt to expand into the American market. At the same time, control of Novalpina-related assets became embroiled in a dispute among the fund’s founders; Berkeley Research Group was appointed to manage assets including NSO. The company entered 2022 under financial and reputational pressure. Reports described missed or threatened debt and payroll payments, internal debate about customer strategy, and unsuccessful or contested efforts to find a buyer. L3Harris was reported to have explored an acquisition involving NSO’s employees, source code, and vulnerability holdings, but the discussions were publicly criticized and apparently discontinued. NSO then reorganized around NATO markets and reduced its workforce. Hulio resigned as CEO in August 2022, with Yaron Shohat serving temporarily. Further ownership disputes continued into 2023, when reporting said Lavie had emerged as the company’s controlling figure after legal battles involving an investment vehicle and the financial firm Treo. In 2025, reports described a controlling investment by U.S.-based investors led by film producer Robert Simonds and the appointment of former U.S. ambassador David Friedman as executive chairman. Because NSO is private and operates through a complex corporate structure, details of ownership, financial condition, and current management should be checked against current corporate and regulatory filings.

2022
Restructuring and workforce reduction
[1]NSO Groupen.wikipedia.org
NSO reorganizes around NATO markets, reduces staff, and changes its chief executive.
2021
U.S. Entity List designation
[2]U.S. Commerce Department Entity List announcementcommerce.gov
The United States restricts exports to NSO because of alleged activities contrary to U.S. interests.
2019
Founders regain majority control
[1]NSO Groupen.wikipedia.org
Francisco Partners sells a majority stake to Hulio and Lavie with Novalpina Capital backing.
2014
Francisco Partners acquisition
[1]NSO Groupen.wikipedia.org
Francisco Partners acquires NSO for a reported $130 million.
2011
Initial Pegasus system completed
[1]NSO Groupen.wikipedia.org
The first reported iteration of Pegasus is finalized for government intelligence use.
2010
Company founded
[1]NSO Groupen.wikipedia.org
Niv Karmi, Shalev Hulio, and Omri Lavie establish NSO Group in Israel.

Products and positioning

High-end government cyber-intelligence and mobile-surveillance technology provider

Mobile spyware and cyber-intelligence platform · 2011
Pegasus
Pegasus is NSO’s best-known product. It is designed for government customers investigating serious crime and national-security threats and can provide covert access to data and functions on compatible mobile devices. Reported versions have used both interaction-based and zero-click exploitation methods. Its capabilities and alleged deployment against journalists, activists, and dissidents have made it a major subject of forensic research, litigation, export-control action, and human-rights criticism.
Mobile geolocation and telecommunications intelligence
Circles technology
Circles develops technology associated with mobile-network location and telecommunications intelligence. It became affiliated with NSO after Francisco Partners acquired Circles in 2014. The relationship and the operation of Circles offices have been reported in connection with scrutiny of the wider NSO corporate network.

Controversies

2022
Reports allege Israeli police used NSO spyware on citizens
Reports alleged that Israeli police used NSO Group's Pegasus spyware on Israeli citizens. The article presents this as an allegation, not a determination that the claim was proven.
Source
2021
Pegasus Project investigations
A consortium of media organizations and researchers examined leaked data indicating that numerous phone numbers had been selected for potential surveillance using Pegasus or related systems.
Source
2021
U.S. sanctions and regulatory action
The United States added NSO to its Entity List, citing risks to national security and foreign policy associated with spyware misuse.
Source
2021
NSO Group responds to allegations about Pegasus
NSO Group denied claims linking names on a reported list to Pegasus targets and said it would no longer respond to media inquiries on the matter. It said it would investigate credible proof of misuse and shut down the system where necessary.
Source
2019
WhatsApp sues NSO Group over alleged phone hacking
WhatsApp sued NSO Group, accusing it of helping government spies hack the phones of roughly 1,400 users. WhatsApp also alleged that NSO facilitated government hacking in 20 countries; NSO denied the allegations. The source provides no publication date to resolve the stated weekday.
Source
2016
Alleged targeting of activists and journalists
Research and reporting identified suspected Pegasus targeting of civil-society figures, journalists, and political critics in multiple countries, challenging NSO’s claims about responsible government use.
Source

2022
NATO-focused restructuringStrategy
Background
NSO faced sanctions, lawsuits, limited sales, and pressure from creditors and investors.
Action taken
Management prioritized prospective customers in NATO countries and reduced the workforce by approximately 100 employees, according to reporting.
Aftermath
Shalev Hulio left the CEO position and Yaron Shohat assumed an interim leadership role.
Source
2021
Response to U.S. Entity List designationStrategy
Background
The U.S. designation restricted access to American suppliers and undermined NSO’s plans to sell to U.S. customers.
Action taken
NSO explored restructuring and alternative ownership or corporate arrangements while continuing to seek government customers outside the restricted market.
Aftermath
The company faced intensified financial pressure and difficulty obtaining new sales.
Source
2019
Founders and Novalpina acquire majority stakeM&A
Background
Francisco Partners sought an exit after several years of rapid growth and increased valuation.
Action taken
Shalev Hulio and Omri Lavie bought back a majority interest with financial support from Novalpina Capital.
Aftermath
The transaction left NSO privately controlled but later became entangled in disputes over Novalpina’s governance and assets.
Reported transaction valuation. Approximately US$1 billion (2019)
Source

Recent events

2022-01-27
Reports allege Israeli police used NSO spyware on citizens[10]Reports allege Israeli police used NSO spyware on citizensvoanews.com
Reported: 2022-01-27
Reports alleged that Israeli police used NSO Group's Pegasus spyware on Israeli citizens. The article presents this as an allegation, not a determination that the claim was proven.
2022-01-25
NSO Group chairman steps down amid surveillance allegations[12]NSO Group董事长在监控指控背景下辞职theverge.com
Reported: 2022-01-25
NSO Group chairman Asher Levi stepped down. The article reports that the resignation followed allegations that the company's Pegasus spyware had been used to monitor Israeli citizens; Levi said his departure had been planned months earlier and was unconnected to current news.
2021-11-23
Apple sues NSO Group over alleged targeting of Apple users[9]WhatsApp sues NSO Group over alleged phone hackingnbcconnecticut.com
Reported: 2021-11-23
Apple announced that it is suing NSO Group for the “surveillance and targeting of Apple users” and is seeking to block access to its mobile devices. The lawsuit also includes NSO Group’s parent company Q Cyber Technologies.
2021-11-11
NSO Group incoming CEO resigns[13]NSO Group 即将上任的首席执行官辞职al-monitor.com
Reported: 2021-11-11
NSO Group incoming CEO Isaac Benbenisti resigned before taking the position, citing special circumstances; Reuters reported that he was leaving the company altogether.
2021-10-31
NSO Group announces Isaac Benbenisti as CEO[14]NSO Group宣布任命Isaac Benbenisti为首席执行官en.globes.co.il
Reported: 2021-10-31
NSO Group announced that it would appoint Isaac Benbenisti as CEO.
2021-09-13
Apple releases security update for iMessage vulnerability[15]苹果发布更新修复 iMessage 漏洞epochtimes.com
Reported: 2021-09-14
Apple released an iOS 14.8 security update on Monday to fix an iMessage vulnerability that Citizen Lab said NSO Group had used to attack Apple devices.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
2021-07-21
NSO Group responds to allegations about Pegasus[11]NSO Group responds to allegations about Pegasusprnewswire.com
Reported: 2021-07-21
NSO Group denied claims linking names on a reported list to Pegasus targets and said it would no longer respond to media inquiries on the matter. It said it would investigate credible proof of misuse and shut down the system where necessary.
Unconfirmed
NSO Group acquires Convexum[16]NSO Group 收购 Convexumcisomag.com
Reported: 2020-02-17
NSO Group acquired drone-technology startup Convexum in a cash deal worth US$60 million, adding a product segment in the drone sector.
Unconfirmed
WhatsApp sues NSO Group over alleged phone hacking[5]WhatsApp sues NSO Group over alleged phone hackingsott.net
WhatsApp sued NSO Group, accusing it of helping government spies hack phones of roughly 1,400 users. WhatsApp also alleged that NSO facilitated government hacking in 20 countries; NSO denied the allegations. The source provides no publication date to resolve the stated weekday.
2019-10-29
Facebook sues NSO Group over alleged WhatsApp hack[17]Facebook 因涉嫌入侵 WhatsApp 起诉 NSO Groupseattletimes.com
Reported: 2019-10-29
Facebook sued NSO Group, alleging that the Israeli cyber surveillance firm hacked WhatsApp users earlier in 2019. Facebook sought to bar NSO from accessing or attempting to access WhatsApp and Facebook services and sought unspecified damages.

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