Spain's Hot Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez Hacked By Pegasus Spyware Prompting Memes About Thirst

It was revealed Monday that the phone of Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, was hacked and breached at least three times using the controversial Pegasus spyware. The Spanish government said it suspects the attacks came from an actor outside of the country.

Spanish prime minister's mobile phone infected by Pegasus spyware, govt says https://t.co/gWSqgLNjaH pic.twitter.com/QWVr9BIaMf

— Reuters (@Reuters) May 2, 2022

Pegasus, which has been called “the world’s most powerful cyber weapon,” can use a text message or missed call to phish data from a phone. The spyware can collect passwords and even remotely activate the microphone and camera for surveillance. Pegasus was created by the Israeli company NSO Group in the 2010s and is classified as a “military export” — meaning the Israeli government gets to set strict rules about how it is sold. One rule set by the Israeli government is that Pegasus can only be sold to other governments, not to private organizations. Even so, many commentators believe the Pegasus spyware is too powerful and too widespread.

First it spied on terrorists. Now, #Pegasus spies on the planet 🕵🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/S5KTYvZjxf pic.twitter.com/vpmLSRoSF5

— Ian Brown 🇮🇨 @1br0wn@social.masto.host (@1Br0wn) April 24, 2022

Israeli government allowing Pegasus company to sell software to dictatorship across the globe to spy on politicians, oppositions and journalists. Basically they have a big role in oppressing and shutting down protesters and freedom of speech.

— S Dilan Nazari (@Dilan79347372) May 2, 2022

As detailed in a deeply researched New York Times report published this January, Israel has been accused of using Pegasus as a bargaining chip, selling it to governments with spotty human rights records in exchange for better relations. Those governments have been accused of using Pegasus to spy on opposition groups, journalists, international organizations and other countries.

The Spanish government says it doesn’t know who used Pegasus against its Prime Minister, but many Spanish memers did take the opportunity to make fun of Pedro Sanchez around social media platforms like Twitter.

🔴EXCLUSIVA | Las imágenes que demostrarían las escuchas telefónicas de Pedro Sánchez a sí mismo. #Pegasus #Morritos pic.twitter.com/SkIZj44ZuM

— mescojono 🇪🇸 (@mescojono) May 2, 2022

Sanchez, who came to power in 2018 amidst several crises (the COVID pandemic, the migrant crisis and the Catalonian secessionist movement) seems to have the reputation of being a bit of a himbo. Not only is he purportedly very handsome (in Spanish, guapo), but he has also been accused of plagiarizing his public writings and speeches. Many of Monday’s memes speculated that the motivation of the Pegasus hackers must have been to find bathroom selfies (“las selfies en el baño”) of Sanchez.

Thirsty Hacker Breaks Into Pedro Sanchez’s Phone Looking For Nudes pic.twitter.com/ue6Ir4yauG

— Le Chou (@LeChouNews) May 2, 2022

Pegasus espiando el móvil de Pedro Sánchez y llegando a la parte de las selfies en el baño pic.twitter.com/3c4e6UjLGn

— 🇳🇬 Peichman 🇳🇬 (@TruePeichman) May 2, 2022

Others suggested the hackers preyed on Sanchez’s vanity to enter his phone. A viral meme, pictured below, shows Sanchez accepting the Pegasus virus into his phone because a pop-up tells him that he is pretty.

pic.twitter.com/fowJpNqGtf

— Froilán I de España 🇪🇸 (@FroilLannister) May 2, 2022

Since Pegasus is a “no-click” spyware (meaning it can enter a phone without the target needing to open a link or a message) some memed about how stealthy the weapon is, speculating that it could get into their phone through a yogurt container.

Acabo de abrir un yogur y me ha salido un Pegasus. pic.twitter.com/UcVEchF0FE

— mescojono 🇪🇸 (@mescojono) May 2, 2022

Some others joked about how the Pegasus virus seemed a little "hot."

"Te he espiado con Pegasus y no te has enterado" pic.twitter.com/BRPZ26iEu5

— Muy.Mona/♥️🇪🇸💚 (@Capitana_espana) May 2, 2022

Another strain of memes argued that the original version of the Pegasus spyware had to be old Spanish women in villages, who apparently spy on everybody.

Pegasus vintage. pic.twitter.com/8ZUQbizk2a

— Girauters (@Girauters) May 2, 2022

Sanchez may be the first world leader to publicly confirm a Pegasus breach, but he is far from the only one concerned about it. Catalonian nationalist politicians in Spain have accused Sanchez’s government of using Pegasus against them, and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly had to get a new phone after learning he and people close to him had been targeted. The future of this powerful weapon is yet to be written, and it's likely this won't be the last time it makes headlines.