US Sanctions Greek Spyware Company, Executives
Information Week
MARCH 6, 2024
Calling the action the “first of its kind,” the US said the spyware company’s software was used against government officials and other US interests.
Apple Calls Out 'Mercenary Spyware' Vendors Enabling State Surveillance
SecureWorld News
APRIL 15, 2024
Apple has escalated its fight against the commercial spyware industry enabling state actors to conduct highly-targeted cyberattacks against journalists, activists, politicians, and other high-risk individuals around the world. These types of attacks have victims in every country in the world." Just last month, the U.S.
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Spyware scandal rocks Polish government
The Verge
DECEMBER 27, 2021
Several members of political opposition groups in Poland have produced evidence that they were hacked by Pegasus spyware, raising alarming questions about the Polish government’s use of the software. In both cases, traces of Pegasus spyware were found on the targets’ devices. a threat to “the rules-based international order”.
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CISA Issues Alert to Secure iPhones Against Pegasus Spyware Zero-Days
SecureWorld News
SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
Alarming details have emerged about the exploitation of two Zero-Day vulnerabilities to deploy NSO Group's Pegasus commercial spyware on iPhones. CISA's actions reflect the critical need for government agencies to secure their devices promptly, given the potential implications of a successful compromise.
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Pegasus Spyware Discovered on Spanish PM's Phone
SecureWorld News
MAY 3, 2022
The highly controversial Pegasus spyware has been found on the mobile phones of Spain's prime minister Pedro Sánchez, as well as the defense minister Margarita Robles, according to the Spanish government. Spain is now investigating the phones of other members of the government to find out if anyone else has been targeted with Pegasus.
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President Biden signs order limiting the use of commercial spyware
TechSpot
MARCH 28, 2023
President Biden has signed an executive order that should effectively prevent the US government and any federal agencies from acquiring or licensing commercial spyware tools that have been previously used by other countries for purposes such as systematic surveillance of key officials, journalists, academics, or dissident voices among the general.
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Security researchers detail Hermit spyware on Android and iOS
TechSpot
JUNE 27, 2022
A report from Google's Threat Analysis Team describes how Italian company RCS Labs distributes its Hermit spyware on behalf of clients which include national governments. It aligns with Lookout Threat Lab's report from earlier this month.
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Apple Unveils 'Lockdown Mode' to Defend Against Spyware
SecureWorld News
JULY 8, 2022
Lockdown Mode is designed to protect users who could be targeted by "the most sophisticated digital threats," such as spyware developed by private companies like the highly controversial NSO Group. The spyware was found on the phone of Jamal Khashoggi's wife just days after his murder. Department of State.
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New analysis further links Pegasus spyware to Jamal Khashoggi murder
The Verge
DECEMBER 21, 2021
New forensic analysis indicates that representatives of the United Arab Emirates government installed Pegasus spyware on the phone of Hanan Elatr, wife of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, just months before her husband was killed. As a spyware company, NSO’s operations have long been shrouded in secrecy.
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The FBI reportedly confirms it tested NSO’s spyware
The Verge
FEBRUARY 2, 2022
The FBI has confirmed to The Washington Post that the agency had a license to use NSO’s Pegasus spyware and that it tested out the software’s capabilities. The company was blacklisted by the US government , severely limiting how it can do business with tech companies based in the States. Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge.
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Microsoft and Google join Facebook’s legal fight against infamous spyware vendor
The Verge
DECEMBER 22, 2020
Facebook-owned WhatsApp sued the spyware vendor last year, alleging that its software was used to hack 1,400 devices via a vulnerability in the messaging service. In response to Facebook’s lawsuit last year, NSO Group has argued it should benefit from “sovereign immunity,” Reuters reports , because it sells its tools to foreign governments.
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Dozens of Al Jazeera journalists targeted in apparent iOS spyware attack
The Verge
DECEMBER 21, 2020
36 personal phones belonging to Al Jazeera journalists, producers, anchors, and executives were hacked in a spyware campaign between July and August 2020, a new report from Citizen Lab alleges. Citizen Lab says it has “medium confidence” that one is working on behalf of the UAE government and another for the Saudi government.
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NSO Group's Spyware Breached a Journalist's iPhone After Apple Sued
Gizmodo
APRIL 5, 2022
NSO Group, the creepy spyware firm known for selling its services to authoritarian governments throughout the world, is in trouble again. A new report shows that the company’s most notorious malware, Pegasus, was used to hack the iPhone of a Jordanian journalist in December. The hack occurred several weeks after… Read more.
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This new spyware named “SpyNote” can read SMS, access camera
Dataconomy
OCTOBER 18, 2023
This counterfeit service purports to be run by the Italian government’s Department of Civil Protection, and it promises to provide notifications and guidance during natural catastrophes such as wildfires and earthquakes. These tools can help detect and remove spyware and other malicious software.
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Amazon Web Services bans accounts linked with Pegasus spyware
The Verge
JULY 19, 2021
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has banned NSO Group, the company behind the Pegasus spyware program. But yesterday’s reporting — comprising work from Amnesty International, Forbidden Stories, and 17 news outlets — says governments deployed it indiscriminately against political figures, dissidents, and journalists.
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Government Employees at High Risk for Mobile Phishing
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
New research from Lookout reveals the most common mobile threats aimed at federal, state, and local government agencies and their employees—all of which have increased since 2021. One in eight government employees were exposed to phishing threats. Federal workers have more restrictions on BYOD devices.
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Creepy Spyware Company Goes Broke
Gizmodo
MARCH 28, 2022
Long accused of helping authoritarian governments to spy on political dissidents and activists, the creepy surveillance company has abruptly shut down amidst an ongoing investigation into its business dealings. FinFisher is no more. Read more.
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Here’s how to check your phone for Pegasus spyware using Amnesty’s tool
The Verge
JULY 21, 2021
Amnesty International — part of the group that helped break the news of journalists and heads of state being targeted by NSO’s government-grade spyware, Pegasus — has released a tool to check if your phone has been affected. Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge.
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Germany's federal police agency secretly purchased and used controversial spyware 'Pegasus'
TechSpot
SEPTEMBER 9, 2021
German news outlet Deutsche Welle (DW) notes that the federal government held a closed-door session with the parliamentary Interior Committee of the Bundestag. In the meeting, it confirmed that the BKA bought Pegasus software from NSO Group in 2019. The agency made the purchase in "the utmost secrecy" against the.
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Restructuring at Controversial NSO Group: Will It Make a Difference?
SecureWorld News
AUGUST 25, 2022
Israeli spyware company NSO Group has experienced quite a bit of controversy in the last few years. Its spyware product, Pegasus, has been used by various criminals and nation states to target individuals of interest, such as activists, politicians, and business leaders. After being blacklisted by the U.S.,
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Predator Files: A Scathing Indictment of EU Surveillance Regulation
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 21, 2023
The report, titled " Predator Files: Caught in the Net ," delves into the operations of the "Intellexa alliance," a complex network of interconnected companies that develop and market powerful spyware used to monitor and manipulate individuals worldwide. businesses and government entities were prohibited from doing business with it." "In
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Apple patches iOS security flaws found in spyware targeting activist
Network World
AUGUST 25, 2016
To spy on a human rights activist, hackers allegedly connected to a Middle Eastern government used three previously unknown vulnerabilities in Apple’s iOS. The claims -- from research at Toronto-based Citizen Lab and mobile security firm Lookout -- focus on spyware that targeted Ahmed Mansoor, an activist in the United Arab Emirates.
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How NSO Group's iPhone-Hacking Exploit Works
Gizmodo
DECEMBER 22, 2021
For years, the Israeli spyware vendor NSO Group has sparked fear and fascination throughout the international community via its hacking tools—the likes of which have been sold to authoritarian governments throughout the world and used against journalists, activists, politicians, and anybody else unfortunate enough to… Read more.
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Jamf debuts sophisticated security protection for executive iPhones
Computerworld Vertical IT
APRIL 21, 2023
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Apple ecosystem is fighting back in a big way against the mercenary spyware companies that have made headlines recently. They know that these technologies tend to proliferate, which is why most firms are now engaged in finding new ways to fight back.
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Unknown Government Using Advanced Hacking Spyware to Attack Russia and Saudi Arabia
Data Center Knowledge
NOVEMBER 24, 2014
Data collection and spying continues to make news with a never before seen complex surveillance software called Regin.
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Appeals court rules Americans have no legal recourse if hacked by foreign governments
Network World
MARCH 15, 2017
Put aside the matter of Russian interference in our presidential election to instead consider this scenario: If Vladimir Putin ordered his government-employed hackers to plant spyware on your personal computer – stealing all your data and even recording your Skype calls – you would have no access to any legal remedy in the U.S.
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Apple pulls no punches in lawsuit against 'amoral' NSO Group
Computerworld Vertical IT
NOVEMBER 24, 2021
Israeli firm NSO Group is a spyware firm that provides surveillance services to governments. It effectively privatizes state-sponsored snooping and enables even the most repressive government to outsource such tasks. Why this should matter to your business.
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The U.S. Blacklists Makers of Cops' Favorite iPhone Hacking Tool
Gizmodo
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
NSO Group, an Israeli surveillance company whose spyware has been peddled to authoritarian governments around the world, has been sanctioned by the U.S. Commerce Department. The new restrictions, which the agency announced in a press release Wednesday, will limit the degree to which American firms can provide parts or… Read more.
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New FurBall Android Malware Used to Spy on Iranian Citizens
SecureWorld News
OCTOBER 21, 2022
Domestic Kitten, also known as the APT-C-50 group, has been spying on Iranian citizens since 2016 with various campaigns targeting anti-government protestors throughout the Middle East. This led the United States government, along with Australia, Canada, and the U.K., Iranian cyber actors draw international attention.
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Second Israeli firm accused of undermining iPhones, like NSO Group
Computerworld Vertical IT
FEBRUARY 3, 2022
The company is smaller than NSO Group, but also sells smartphone hacking tools to governments. The news follows the revelation that the FBI also obtained NSO’s Pegasus spyware , but claims it did not use it. A Reuters report has the details: QuaDream made use of the same flaw to commit similar attacks against iPhones.
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Breaking: Apple Sues 'Abusive State-Actor' NSO Group
SecureWorld News
NOVEMBER 23, 2021
The steps we’re taking today will send a clear message: In a free society, it is unacceptable to weaponize powerful state-sponsored spyware against those who seek to make the world a better place.". Being on this list effectively blocks the government or its vendors from doing business with NSO. And he didn't stop there.
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The Zero Click, Zero Day iMessage Attack Against Journalists
SecureWorld News
DECEMBER 23, 2020
Pegasus spyware is a phone surveillance solution that enables customers to remotely exploit and monitor devices. The company sells its surveillance technology to governments around the world. The spyware also accessed the LocationSupport.framework and CoreLocation.framework, which can be used to track the user’s location.
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Operation Triangulation: Could Apple be an NSA agent, Russia asks
Dataconomy
JUNE 2, 2023
A large number of hacked devices belonging to Russian government officials and workers from various embassies, they claim, is more proof of this. A previous Russian directive instructed the presidential staff and government workers to stop using iPhones and other products developed in the USA.
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Microsoft Word exploit linked to cyberspying in Ukraine conflict
Network World
APRIL 12, 2017
A previously unknown Microsoft Office vulnerability was recently used to deliver spyware to Russian-speaking targets, in a possible case of cyberespionage. Once opened, the malicious document will deliver FinSpy, a surveillance software that’s been marketed to governments.
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US athletes told to use burner phones at Beijing Winter Olympics
The Verge
JANUARY 22, 2022
In 2019, China was caught secretly installing spyware on tourists’ phones who entered from the Xinjiang region. As noted by the WSJ , Great Britain, Canada, and the Netherlands have also cautioned athletes against bringing their personal electronics into the country. The Committee’s fears aren’t unfounded.
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Fed Tech News Roundup
CTOvision
JULY 6, 2015
Google-style recruiting — even in government FCW (Today) - Hire people who are better than you, and make sure they’re smart and curious, says Google exec Laszlo Bock.Google is famous for its culture of work as play. Dezzutti has been instrumental in Market Connections’ efforts to provide views and trends to government.
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Cyber-Security Dangers of Repealing Net Neutrality
Galido
JUNE 17, 2018
Net neutrality is the principle that governments have put in place directing Internet Service Providers (ISP) to treat all internet traffic the same. Spyware is a Threat to Sensitive Information. Internet Service Providers will need to install spyware on devices to be able to record your internet browsing. Conclusion.
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Pegasus spyware group blacklisted by the US government
The Verge
NOVEMBER 3, 2021
The US Department of Commerce has ordered American companies to not sell their tech to NSO, citing reports that the group’s Pegasus spyware is used against journalists, government officials, activists, and more. NSO isn’t the only company being added to the entity list on Thursday.
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U.S. Implements Visa Ban to Counter Spyware Proliferation
SecureWorld News
FEBRUARY 7, 2024
State Department announced Monday a new policy to impose visa restrictions on individuals linked to the misuse of commercial spyware tools that enable unlawful surveillance and human rights abuses globally. The policy allows visa denials on a case-by-case basis for those involved in spyware misuse. RELATED: U.S.
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School Gives Malware Infected Laptops to Students
SecureWorld News
JANUARY 23, 2021
government recently sent out roughly 800,000 laptops to disadvantaged students who may not have access to one at home. This malware strain works by installing spyware, used to gather information about browsing habits and personal data. Unfortunately, a number of the laptops sent out were discovered to have malware.
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Executive Order Bans Commercial Spyware from U.S. Government Agencies
SecureWorld News
MARCH 29, 2023
United States President Joe Biden has signed an Executive Order banning commercial spyware from government agencies. With this order, the Biden Administration aims to safeguard the privacy and security of citizens and prevent foreign actors from accessing sensitive government information.
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Fake Job Offer Hack Leads to $540M Loss for Axie Infinity
SecureWorld News
JULY 11, 2022
The United States government has attributed the hack to a North Korean state-sponsored advanced persistent threat (APT) known as the Lazarus Group. The offer was emailed as a PDF document, and once it was downloaded, spyware infected the company's systems.
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US Adds Spyware Vendors to Entity List for Cyber Exploits Trafficking
SecureWorld News
JULY 20, 2023
The Commerce Department recently added four spyware vendors to its Entity List for their involvement in trafficking cyber exploits used to gain unauthorized access to information systems. This move targets the activities of spyware vendors that pose a serious threat to the privacy and security of individuals and organizations worldwide.
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Malvertising Is a Cybercrime Heavyweight, Not an Underdog
SecureWorld News
MARCH 29, 2024
This ends up executing sketchy code that installs viruses, ransomware, spyware, or adware behind the victim's back. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published an advisory encouraging all government agencies to leverage ad blocking solutions in their day-to-day work.
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