UK government says 100 countries have spyware that can hack people’s phones

U.K. intelligence warns that commercial spyware developed by private firms (e.g., Pegasus, Graphite) is now accessible to roughly 100 countries, enabling state and criminal actors to break into phones and computers to steal sensitive data and target high-profile individuals; the report notes China-linked intrusions, an expanded victimology including bankers and businesspeople, and the leak of the DarkSword toolkit containing iPhone exploits, raising concerns about proliferation, misuse, and risks to citizens, companies, and critical infrastructure.