Step 1: Understanding the Question
The question asks to define what "Pegasus" is in a technological context.
Step 2: Defining Pegasus
Pegasus is the name of a sophisticated piece of malicious software, specifically spyware, developed by the Israeli cyber-arms firm NSO Group.
It is designed to be covertly installed on mobile phones (both iOS and Android) and can harvest a vast amount of data, including texts, emails, photos, and location data. It can also activate the phone's camera and microphone without the user's knowledge.
It has been in the news for its alleged use by governments to spy on journalists, activists, and political opponents.
Step 3: Evaluating the Options
(A) Operating system: An OS is the main software that runs a computer (e.g., Windows, macOS, Android). Pegasus is an application that runs on an OS.
(B) Software Language: A language is used to write software (e.g., Python, Java). Pegasus is the software itself, not the language.
(C) Spyware: This is the correct classification. Spyware is a type of malware designed to spy on a user's activities without their consent.
(D) Online video game: This is a form of entertainment and is unrelated.
Step 4: Final Answer
Pegasus is a type of spyware. Therefore, option (C) is the correct answer.