A suspicious WhatsApp message carried the mobile cyberweapon known as Pegasus – sold by Israel-based company NSO Group to state-level actors around the world.

Speakers at Virus Bulletin painted grim pictures of the threats to physical safety and civil liberties posed by commercial spyware and high-end surveillance software often sold to governments.

Edward Snowden took his case to the media Wednesday arguing a presidential pardon would be important step in preserving democracy and his only hope in returning to the United States. He argued that under the current Espionage Act, future whistleblowers would be less inclined to come forward to expose government abuses of power. “Today whistleblowing...