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Tag: spyware

57 articles

Person walks by digital billboard displaying online ad, holding smartphone.

Citizen Lab Exposes Candiru Spyware Infections Through Targeted Online Ads

Meet the sneaky spyware that can infect your device with just a single online ad - no clicks required. Citizen Lab researchers uncovered a cunning ad-delivery chain used by Discover-Tech to spread zero-click spyware, infecting targets with alarming precision.

Analyst 207
Modern mobile app development workspace with devices and equipment.

Adtech Firm Exposes Online Ads as Spyware Vector

Meet Discover-Tech, an Israeli adtech firm with a shady secret: its Controlium platform has been caught exploiting online ads to spy on users across over 70,000 mobile apps and 120,000 websites.

Analyst 207
Person holding Android smartphone with ransomware chat on screen in urban setting.

MantaxOtax Malware Targets Android Devices with Ransomware and Spyware

Meet MantaxOtax, a sneaky malware that's putting Android users on high alert with its potent mix of ransomware and spyware, allowing hackers to hold your device hostage and snoop on your personal life. This hybrid threat can encrypt your files, track your location, and even siphon off sensitive info like contacts, call logs, and gallery content.

Analyst 207
European Parliament building with a laptop and papers on a table.

EU Parliament Presses Serbia on Spyware Use

The European Parliament is cracking down on Serbia's alleged use of spyware, with 29 MEPs slamming it as a "direct state attack on democracy". They've called out the Serbian government for infecting phones of student activists with spyware, including evidence pointing to government involvement in NoviSpy infections.

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Student activist studies at university table with laptop and papers nearby.

Serbian Activists Targeted by Pegasus, NoviSpy Variant Spyware

In a chilling revelation, researchers have confirmed that Serbian student activists and government officials were targeted by the notorious Pegasus spyware, a tool still being used to silence democracy advocates. This disturbing discovery has exposed a sinister campaign that compromised the devices of 14 people, including a member of parliament and a local government official.

Analyst 207
Smartphone on cluttered desk in cafe with blurred webpage on screen.

Malicious Packagist Packages Target Unpatched iPhones to Steal Crypto Seeds

Researchers uncovered 13 malicious packages on Packagist that inject JavaScript into popular Vietnamese streaming sites, unleashing a two-pronged attack that includes mobile ad-fraud and spyware installation on unpatched iPhones. This sneaky malware can steal crypto seeds and wreak havoc on unsuspecting users.

Analyst 207
Devices scattered on a graffiti-covered wall, connected by faint lines suggesting Bluetooth or Wi-Fi signals.

Manic Android Malware Exploits Nearby Devices for Data Exfiltration

Meet Manic, a sneaky new Android malware that's using a clever fallback strategy to steal sensitive data from nearby devices, even when they have no internet connection. It captures credentials and in-app secrets by combining spyware, banking fraud, and remote-control capabilities into one powerful payload.

Analyst 207
Smartphone with blurred screen on quiet workspace surface surrounded by papers and coffee cup.

Apple patches image-processing flaw exploited in spyware campaigns

Apple just patched a major security flaw in its ImageIO system that could let attackers run code on your device - and it's already been used in sneaky spyware campaigns targeting high-profile targets.

Analyst 207
Telecommunications equipment array on a cell tower against a daytime sky.

US Military Left Vulnerable to Telecom Attacks

The US military's vulnerability to telecom attacks has been exposed, with numerous successful breaches resulting in stolen location data, intercepted communications, and even manipulation of American voters through text messages. This alarming threat isn't caused by a new malware strain, but rather a decades-old signaling system that underpins global telephony and has been left open to exploitation.

Analyst 207
Smartphone on a plain surface with subtle screen reflection in natural light.

NSO Group Defies Court Order, Continues Targeting WhatsApp Users

Despite a court order blocking it from doing so, NSO Group continues to target WhatsApp users, defying the ruling and putting users at risk. The company is fighting to overturn the order, claiming it will suffer harm if it's forced to comply.

Analyst 207
Smartphone on a cluttered desk shows a blurred malicious link on its screen.

WhatsApp Disrupts NSO Group's Spearphishing Campaign

WhatsApp has successfully shut down a sneaky phishing campaign by notorious spyware firm NSO Group, which tried to trick users into clicking malicious links to spy on them. The messaging giant is now asking a US court to hold NSO Group accountable for violating a ban on targeting users.

Analyst 207
Person holding smartphone with blank screen, surrounded by blurred cityscape and subtle hint of phishing attempt on nearby…

Meta Alleges NSO Group Breaches Spyware Injunction

Meta just took a bold stand against NSO Group, the notorious spyware maker, by ramping up legal action after thwarting a sneaky phishing campaign aimed at WhatsApp users. The tech giant successfully blocked NSO-linked attempts to trick people into clicking malicious links, despite a US court injunction already in place.

Analyst 207
Smartphone displaying WhatsApp conversation with suspicious link on a clean, minimalist surface.

WhatsApp Disrupts NSO Group's Spyware Phishing Campaigns

Meta's WhatsApp team swiftly sprang into action, disrupting a sophisticated spyware phishing campaign linked to the NSO Group after investigating user reports of targeted social-engineering attacks. They successfully stopped the attackers' attempts to trick people into clicking malicious links that could have put their data at risk.

Analyst 207
Smartphone with blank screen on a neutral table in a quiet room.

Meta Accuses NSO Group of Breaching WhatsApp Injunction

Meta is taking a stand against NSO Group, accusing the Israeli spyware vendor of breaching a WhatsApp injunction by targeting users with social engineering attempts. The company claims it successfully thwarted these malicious efforts, but is now asking a federal judge to hold NSO Group in contempt.

Analyst 207
Android device settings show Intrusion Logging feature enabled in Advanced Protection Mode.

Google Bolsters Android Spyware Defenses with Intrusion Logging Feature

Google just launched a game-changing feature to help protect Android users from spyware: Intrusion Logging, a powerful tool that collects forensic data to help investigate suspected device compromises. Now available in Advanced Protection Mode, this innovative feature lets users opt-in to safeguard their digital security and peace of mind.

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Smartphone on a lab bench with forensic tools in the background, under bright daylight.

Google Bolsters Android Security to Counter Spyware Vendors

Google's new Intrusion Logging feature is a game-changer in the fight against spyware, helping digital forensics researchers uncover sophisticated attacks on Android devices. By recording security incidents like device unlocking and spyware installation, it provides crucial evidence to investigate and take down these threats.

Analyst 207
Person working at desk with laptop in a well-lit office setting.

Malicious AI Browser Extensions Exfiltrate User Data

Beware of AI browser extensions that promise to boost productivity but secretly steal your data. Researchers uncovered 18 malicious extensions that masquerade as helpful tools but deliver spyware, Trojans, and other threats that can hijack your online activity.

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Person in shadows intently watches cityscape on laptop screen, symbolizing surveillance and control.

Kaspersky Uncovers CrystalX RAT with Extensive Spyware and Stealer Capabilities

Meet CrystalX, a sinister new remote-access tool that's being sold as a ready-made menace, packing an alarming combination of spyware, stealer, and prankware capabilities that put your digital security at risk. This malicious toolkit is the latest threat to watch out for, and Kaspersky researchers are sounding the alarm.

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Person surrounded by screens displaying code and surveillance footage in a dimly lit room with a broken smartphone and…

Congress Probes ICE's Use of Paragon Spyware

House Democrats are pushing back against Immigration and Customs Enforcement's use of Paragon spyware, demanding more answers after the agency's explanations fell short. The lawmakers' concerns highlight growing tensions over law enforcement's use of controversial hacking tools.

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WhatsApp Exposes Italian Users to Spyware via Fake iOS App

WhatsApp Exposes Italian Users to Spyware via Fake iOS App

WhatsApp has alerted around 200 users, mostly in Italy, about a sneaky spyware attack that hit them after they downloaded a fake version of the app for iOS. This alarming incident raises a crucial question: how can you trust that the app on your phone is genuine?

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PlushDaemon Exclusive: Dangerous New Spy Malware

PlushDaemon Exclusive: Dangerous New Spy Malware

Exclusive: PlushDaemon malware is a stealthy new spy quietly siphoning personal data — learn how it works, whos at risk, and easy steps you can take to protect yourself.

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Chinese-Linked Hackers Stunning Windows Spy Damages Envoys

Chinese-Linked Hackers Stunning Windows Spy Damages Envoys

Chinese-linked UNC6384 is exploiting a Windows vulnerability to plant stealthy spyware in diplomatic and commercial networks—an unsettling upgrade in tradecraft that challenges whether governments, companies, and users can patch porous defenses before quiet probes turn into loud alarms.

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Apple Security Bounty: Stunning $2M Boost, Risky Win

Apple Security Bounty: Stunning $2M Boost, Risky Win

Apple just put a price on silence — offering up to $2M (and over $5M with bonuses) for zero‑click exploits to lure researchers into legal disclosure, undercut mercenary spyware markets, and speed fixes that better protect users.

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ClayRat spyware: Exclusive Risky Android Threat

ClayRat spyware: Exclusive Risky Android Threat

Imagine a trusted Telegram app secretly scanning your messages, recording calls and sending everything off-device — that’s exactly what the new ClayRat spyware campaign is doing by spreading fake Android APKs through Telegram channels. Avoid sideloading, tighten app permissions, and treat APK links with suspicion to stop your phone from becoming a surveillance tool.

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