Smashing Security The dark web's worst assassins, and Pegasus in the dock
23 snips
Jan 29, 2026 
Joe Tidy, experienced BBC cyber correspondent and author, explains how spyware can turn a phone into a constant surveillance tool. They dig into darknet hitman marketplaces, fake-for-hire scams and how criminals trick customers. The conversation also covers a landmark UK ruling over Pegasus infections and the messy aftermath of state-linked phone hacking.
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Hack Exposed Orders But Couldn't Prevent Murder
- The hacked Bessa Mafia site led to convictions but also tragic outcomes like Amy Allwine's murder despite FBI warnings.
- The site hack both prevented some crimes and indirectly failed to stop others with devastating consequences.
Crimes With No Complaints Evade Detection
- Hitman-for-hire scams are profitable yet underreported because customers won't contact police.
- That lack of complaints creates enforcement blind spots exploited by criminals.
UK Ruling Links Pegasus To State Harassment
- Joe Tidy reported that Ghanem al-Masarir, a Saudi dissident in the UK, won a UK court judgment after his phones were infected with Pegasus.
- The ruling linked NSO-style spyware misuse to state actors and awarded over £3 million in damages.
