Lookout (IT security)

Lookout was founded by three IT security researchers that met at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.[2] As students, they formed a consulting firm focused on cybersecurity called Flexilis in 2003.[3] In 2004, they discovered a vulnerability in Nokia phones that allowed them to take control of the phones remotely through Bluetooth.[2][4] The founders couldn't get Nokia to patch the vulnerability, so they scanned data from Nokia phones at the 2005 Academy Awards using a high-powered bluetooth device, as a publicity stunt.[2][4] Exposing security vulnerabilities in the private phones of celebrities led to widespread media attention and Nokia soon fixed the problem.[1]

In 2007, Flexilis began developing a mobile security app[1] and raised $5.5 million in venture capital.[5] In 2009, Flexilis changed its name to Lookout.[1] $11 million in venture capital funding was raised in 2010[6] followed by $40 million in 2011,[7] $75 million in 2012,[2] and $55 million in 2013.[8] A series F funding round in 2014 raised another $150 million in funding.[9] In 2014, co-founder John Hering stepped down as CEO and former Juniper Networks executive Jim Dolce was appointed to the position.[10]

In 2017, Lookout and Citizen Lab discovered a malicious app called Pegasus, made by the Israeli-firm NSO Group, which had iPhone and Android versions that posed as ordinary apps, then took control of the phone once downloaded.[11][12] The following year, Lookout and the Electronic Frontier Foundation published a report exposing a series of similar hacking campaigns by the Lebanese government called Dark Caracal.[13]

Lookout develops and markets a security app for mobile phones also called Lookout. A free version includes antivirus and antimalware scans, and locator features.[14][15] The free version comes pre-installed on Android devices sold by T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint.[4][16] Paid versions add the ability to remotely lock and wipe the phone, backup photos, and other features.[15][17] An enterprise version adds analytics, an admin console, and tools to detect malicious software on corporate networks.[18][19]

The first free version of Lookout was introduced in December 2009.[17] The first paid version was introduced the following year.[17] A "Safe Browsing" browser add-on was added in 2011.[20][21] In 2012, Version 3 of Lookout overhauled the user interface and added Signal Flare, which documents the phone's location just before it runs out of battery.[14] The following year, Lookout added a feature that secretly takes a photo when someone tries to unlock the phone unsuccessfully, in order to catch thieves.[22] The first business version, which added features for IT administrators, was introduced in 2013.[23] This was followed by the first enterprise version in June 2015.[24][18]

• Official website
• Interview about the company's history with CTO Kevin Mahaffey