Pegasus target Macron swaps phone number

EMMANUEL MACRON has changed his mobile phone and telephone number in light of the Pegasus spyware case.

The French president took action after it was reported on Tuesday that his phone was on a list of potential targets for surveillance by Morocco.

“He’s got several phone numbers. This does not mean he has been spied on. It’s just additional security,” a presidency official said yesterday.

Gabriel Attal, a government spokesman, said the president’s security protocols were being adapted in light of the incident.

“Obviously we’re taking this very seriously,” Mr Attal told reporters hours after an emergency cabinet meeting focused on the Pegasus allegations.

A global outcry was triggered when several international media organisations reported that the spyware was used in hacking smartphones belonging to journalists, human rights activists and government officials in several countries.

The Israeli-based NSO Group, which sells the Pegasus software internationally “to fight crime and terrorism” has denied any wrongdoing.

Morocco has rejected any allegations linked to the spyware.