Why Italy Sells So Much Spyware
Interesting analysis:
Although much attention is given to sophisticated, zero-click spyware developed by companies like Israel’s NSO Group, the Italian spyware marketplace has been able to operate relatively under the radar by specializing in cheaper tools. According to an Italian Ministry of Justice document, as of December 2022 law enforcement in the country could rent spyware for €150 a day, regardless of which vendor they used, and without the large acquisition costs which would normally be prohibitive.
As a result, thousands of spyware operations have been carried out by Italian authorities in recent years, according to a report from Riccardo Coluccini, a respected Italian journalist who specializes in covering spyware and hacking.
Italian spyware is cheaper and easier to use, which makes it more widely used. And Italian companies have been in this market for a long time.
Clive Robinson • November 19, 2024 10:03 AM
@ Bruce, ALL,
Something to consider with regards Italy.
I was surprised to be informed yesterday that Italy in a number of respects has a bigger capability in terms of economic MIC than Russia…
Yup it surprised me as well as Italy are not the biggest EU nation by MIC economics… Germany and France both spend big, and France appears to get the best values for it’s Euros of all European Nations. Which might have something to do with it’s continued aim to have full MIC Sovereignty as does apparently Italy.
So yes the Italian MIC has “productive investment” in two ways,
1, Direct Government spend.
2, Subsidiary income from other Nations.
That is the Italian like the Israeli governments get their Spyware research and production very heavily subsidised by not just “other nations” but many NGO’s in the world.
Some “known history” suggests these Spyware companies thus the Governments use Bulgaria as a front to do the evasion of sanctions and other arms length sales thus avoiding embarrassment etc.