spyware

Pierluigi Paganini July 09, 2023
Two spyware sending data of more than 1.5M users to China were found in Google Play Store

Two apps on the Google Play Store with more than 1.5 million downloads have been discovered spying on users and sending data to China. Researchers from cybersecurity firm Pradeo discovered two malicious apps on Google Play hinding spyware and spying on up to 1.5 million users. Both applications are file management apps from the same […]

Pierluigi Paganini June 07, 2023
June 2023 Security Update for Android fixed Arm Mali GPU bug used by spyware

June 2023 security update for Android released by Google fixes about fifty flaws, including an Arm Mali GPU bug exploited by surveillance firms in their spyware. The June 2023 Android Security Bulletin provides details about the fix for more than fifty vulnerabilities affecting Android devices. Security updates released this month also addressed a vulnerability, tracked […]

Pierluigi Paganini May 29, 2023
Researchers analyzed the PREDATOR spyware and its loader Alien

Cisco Talos and the Citizen Lab researchers have published a technical analysis of the powerful Android spyware Predator. Security researchers at Cisco Talos and the Citizen Lab have shared technical details about a commercial Android spyware named Predator that is sold by the surveillance firm Intellexa (formerly known as Cytrox). The researchers focused their analysis […]

Pierluigi Paganini April 18, 2023
Israeli surveillance firm QuaDream is shutting down amidst spyware accusations

The Israeli surveillance firm QuaDream is allegedly shutting down its operations after Citizen Lab and Microsoft uncovered their spyware. Last week Citizen Lab researchers reported that at least five civil society members were victims of spyware and exploits developed by the Israeli surveillance firm QuaDream. The victims include journalists, political opposition figures, and an NGO worker […]

Pierluigi Paganini April 12, 2023
QuaDream surveillance firm’s spyware targeted iPhones with zero-click exploit

At least five members of civil society worldwide have been targeted with spyware and exploits developed by surveillance firm QuaDream. Citizen Lab researchers reported that at least five civil society members were victims of spyware and exploits developed by the Israeli surveillance firm QuaDream. The victims include journalists, political opposition figures, and an NGO worker […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 30, 2022
Google links three exploitation frameworks to Spanish commercial spyware vendor Variston

Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) linked three exploitation frameworks to a Spanish surveillance spyware vendor named Variston. While tracking the activities of commercial spyware vendors, Threat Analysis Group (TAG) spotted an exploitation framework likely linked Variston IT, a Spanish firm. Officially, Variston claims to provide custom security solutions and custom patches for embedded system. The […]

Pierluigi Paganini November 11, 2022
Long-running surveillance campaigns target Uyghurs with BadBazaar and MOONSHINE spyware

Lookout researchers discovered two long-running surveillance campaigns targeting the ethnic minority Uyghurs. Researchers from mobile security firm Lookout uncovered two long-running surveillance campaigns targeting the Uyghurs minority. The threat actors behind the campaigns used two Android spyware to spy on the victims and steal sensitive information. The campaigns involved a new piece of malware called […]

Pierluigi Paganini September 06, 2022
A new Android malware used to spy on the Uyghur Community

Experts spotted new Android spyware that was used by China-linked threat actors to spy on the Uyghur community in China. Researchers from Cyble Research & Intelligence Labs (CRIL) started their investigation after MalwareHunterTeam experts shared information about a new Android malware used to spy on the Uyghur community. The malware disguised as a book titled “The China […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 22, 2022
Candiru surveillance spyware DevilsTongue exploited Chrome Zero-Day to target journalists

The spyware developed by Israeli surveillance firm Candiru exploited recently fixed CVE-2022-2294 Chrome zero-day in attacks on journalists. Researchers from the antivirus firm Avast reported that the DevilsTongue spyware, developed, by Israeli surveillance firm Candiru, was used in attacks against journalists in the Middle East and exploited recently fixed CVE-2022-2294 Chrome zero-day. The flaw, which […]

Pierluigi Paganini July 19, 2022
CloudMensis spyware went undetected for many years

Researchers spotted previously undocumented spyware, dubbed CloudMensis, that targets the Apple macOS systems. Researchers from ESET discovered a previously undetected macOS backdoor, tracked as CloudMensis, that targets macOS systems and exclusively uses public cloud storage services as C2. The malware was designed to spy on the target systems, exfiltrate documents, acquire keystrokes, and screen captures. […]