Spyware
Spyware maker pcTattletale says it’s ‘out of business’ and shuts down after data breach
The spyware maker’s founder, Bryan Fleming, said pcTattletale is “out of business and completely done,” following a data breach.
pcTattletale’s website was briefly defaced and contained links containing files from the spyware maker’s servers, before going offline.
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Spyware found on US hotel check-in computers
Several hotel check-in computers are running a remote access app, which is leaking screenshots of guest information to the internet.
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Your Android phone could have stalkerware — here’s how to remove it
This simple guide helps you identify and remove common consumer-grade spyware apps from your Android phone.
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Price of zero-day exploits rises as companies harden products against hackers
Tools that allow government hackers to break into iPhones and Android phones, popular software like the Chrome and Safari browsers, and chat apps like WhatsApp and iMessage, are now worth millions of dollars — and their price has multiplied in the last few years as these products get harder to…
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Investors’ pledge to fight spyware undercut by past investments in US malware maker
On Monday, the Biden administration announced that six new countries had joined an international coalition to fight the proliferation of commercial spyware, sold by companies such as NSO Group or Intellexa. Now, some investors have announced that they too are committed to fighting spyware. But at least one of those…
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Four things we learned when US intelligence chiefs testified to Congress
Cyberattacks, regional conflict, weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, commercial spyware, AI, misinformation, disinformation, deepfakes and TikTok. These are just some of the top perceived threats that the United States faces, according to the U.S. government’s intelligence agency’s latest global risk assessment. The unclassified report published Monday — sanitized for public…
Spyware makers express concern after US sanctions spyware veteran
Earlier this week, the U.S. government announced sanctions against the founder of a controversial government spyware maker, Tal Dilian, and his business associate, Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou. In announcing the…
US sanctions founder of spyware maker Intellexa for targeting Americans
The U.S. government announced Tuesday sanctions against the founder of the notorious spyware company Intellexa and one of his business partners. This is the first time the U.S. government has…
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Spyware startup Variston is losing staff — some say it’s closing
In July 2022, someone sent Google a batch of malicious code that could be used to hack Chrome, Firefox, and PCs running Microsoft Defender. That code was part of an exploitation framework called Heliconia. And at the time, the exploits used to target those applications were zero-days, meaning the software…
Government hackers targeted iPhone owners with zero-days, Google says
Government hackers last year exploited three unknown vulnerabilities in Apple’s iPhone operating system to target victims with spyware developed by a European startup, according to Google. On Tuesday, Google’s Threat…
Founder of spyware maker Hacking Team arrested for attempted murder: local media
The founder of the infamous and now-defunct spyware maker Hacking Team was arrested on Saturday after allegedly stabbing and attempting to murder a relative, according to multiple news reports. David Vincenzetti,…
Google patches zero-day exploited by commercial spyware vendor
Google has rushed to patch a zero-day vulnerability in Chrome that was exploited by a commercial spyware vendor. The vulnerability was reported to the Chrome team by Clement Lecigne of…
Polish Senate says use of government spyware is illegal in the country
A special commission within Poland’s Senate concluded that the government’s use of spyware, like the one made by NSO Group, is illegal. The commission announced on Thursday the conclusion of…
The U.S. government put Intellexa and Cytrox, two European spyware makers, on an economic denylist on Tuesday. The addition of the two companies, based in Greece and Hungary, as well…
Researchers say they found spyware used in war for the first time
Security researchers and digital rights organizations believe the government of Azerbaijan used spyware produced by NSO Group to target a government worker, journalists, activists and the human rights ombudsperson in…
Apple’s high security mode blocked NSO spyware, researchers say
Last year, Apple launched a new feature for iPhone users who are worried about getting targeted with sophisticated spyware, such as journalists or human rights defenders. Now, researchers say they…
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Mercenary spyware hacked iPhone victims with rogue calendar invites, researchers say
Hackers using spyware made by a little known cyber mercenary company used malicious calendar invites to hack the iPhones of journalists, political opposition figures and an NGO worker, according to two reports. Researchers at Microsoft and the digital rights group Citizen Lab analyzed samples of malware they say was created…
Hackers used spyware made in Spain to target users in the UAE, Google says
In November 2022, Google revealed the existence of a then-unknown spyware vendor called Variston. Now, Google researchers say they have seen hackers use Variston’s tools in the United Arab Emirates.…
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Digital rights defenders infiltrate alleged mercenary hacking group
Cooper Quintin has been tracking the activities of a cyber mercenary group called Dark Caracal for years. On July 28, 2022, he said he discovered traces of a new ongoing hacking campaign by the group in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. While he was analyzing the domains that the hackers…
New York attorney general orders stalkerware maker to notify hacked victims
A New York-based spyware maker has agreed to notify the individuals whose phones were compromised by its mobile surveillance software, following a deal with the New York attorney general’s office…
Supreme Court declines to block WhatsApp lawsuit over NSO phone hacking
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to block a lawsuit brought by WhatsApp challenging the alleged mass phone hacking by Israeli spyware maker NSO Group. Meta-owned WhatsApp first filed a…
Apple fixes ‘actively exploited’ zero-day security vulnerability affecting most iPhones
Apple has confirmed that an iPhone software update it released two weeks ago fixed a zero-day security vulnerability that it now says was actively exploited. The update, iOS 16.1.2, landed…
Spyware vendor Variston exploited Chrome, Firefox and Windows zero-days, says Google
A Barcelona-based company that bills itself as a custom security solutions provider exploited several zero-day vulnerabilities in Windows, and Chrome and Firefox browsers to plant spyware, say Google security researchers.…
WhatsApp fixes ‘critical’ security bug that put Android phone data at risk
WhatsApp has published details of a “critical”-rated security vulnerability affecting its Android app that could allow attackers to remotely plant malware on a victim’s smartphone during a video call. Details…
US arm of Israeli defense giant Elbit Systems says it was hacked
Elbit Systems of America, the U.S. arm of Israeli defense contractor Elbit, says its network was compromised in early June and personal information of employees was stolen. In a breach…
Twitter. Whistle. Blown. (and other TC news)
This week on The TechCrunch Podcast we’re talking to Zack Whittaker about TechCrunch’s new spyware lookup tool and a whistleblower complaint against Twitter alleging massive…
Daily Crunch: Google will unplug its IoT Core service in August 2023
Hello, friends, and welcome to Daily Crunch, bringing you the most important startup, tech and venture capital news in a single package.
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TechCrunch launches TheTruthSpy spyware lookup tool
TechCrunch today launched a spyware lookup tool that allows anyone to check if their Android device was compromised by a network of consumer-grade stalkerware apps, including TheTruthSpy. The aim is to help victims check if their device was compromised and reclaim control of their device. It follows a months-long investigation…
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Hands-on with Lockdown Mode in iOS 16
Lockdown Mode is a new Apple feature you should hope you’ll never need to use. But for those who do, like journalists, politicians, lawyers and human rights defenders, it’s a last line of defense against nation-state spyware designed to punch through an iPhone’s protections. The new security feature was announced…
