MBS definitely seems pretty brazen. I could totally buy him doing this - effectively social engineering Bezos - over negative stories about Saudi Arabia in the Washington Post. Who better to persuade Bezos to look at a video?

I'm a little surprised Bezos fell for it. Video-triggered vulnerabilities are pretty rare and not something you'd normally be vigilant about, as are world leaders acting as APTs, but he still should've considered the possibility that a giant, powerful nation his ultra-influential newspaper covered might want to target him and would have the capability to do so.

He could've asked an Amazon security analyst to open the video in a sandboxed system, or could've just done so himself. I guess it just never crossed his mind that the (de facto) ruler of Saudi Arabia would phish him.

Pretty brazen? Don't forget that the WP reported that US intelligence intercepted comms from Saudi officials discussing a plan ordered by MBS to lure Jamal Khashoggi from his home in Virginia and then subsequently had him cut into pieces in an embassy.

Hacking a phone is small potatoes.

Yeah, I was using semi-facetious understatement. He's very brazen for someone in his position.

Thankfully he is loved by the West and is untouchable, goes a long way when you are a maniacally evil despot with a penchant for torture.

Who are the bad guys again? Didn't watch the tele today, they usually tell me.

One of those countries without one of those Banks.

And more specifically the potential exploit / vector used.