April 23, 2024 at 11:44AM The US Department of State has initiated visa restrictions on 13 individuals and their families linked to commercial spyware operations, aiming to combat the proliferation and misuse of spyware. This aligns with broader efforts, including export controls and sanctions, to address the misuse of spyware. The Biden Administration has issued … Read more
April 11, 2024 at 02:57AM Apple updates its spyware threat notification system to alert users of possible individual targeting. The move responds to global and ongoing mercenary spyware attacks, particularly on journalists and activists. The company also sent threat notifications to iPhone users in 92 countries. International efforts are underway to counter the misuse of … Read more
March 6, 2024 at 03:15AM The U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned individuals and entities linked to Intellexa Alliance for distributing spyware targeting government officials and journalists. The group, including companies like Cytrox, developed the Predator spyware, similar to NSO Group’s Pegasus, enabling unauthorized data access. The sanctions aim to address misuse of commercial spyware and protect … Read more
March 5, 2024 at 04:00PM The Treasury Department sanctioned a Greece-based spyware company, Intellexa Consortium, and its associated entities for developing and distributing spyware tools known as Predator targeting U.S. government officials and journalists. The sanctions mark the first time for misusing spyware, and the Commerce Department had previously blacklisted these entities. The spyware allows … Read more
February 6, 2024 at 03:16PM Dozens of countries, including France, the UK, and the US, and tech giants like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, have joined forces to combat the misuse of commercial spyware violating human rights. The coalition aims to establish guidelines and transparency in the development and use of these cyber-intrusion capabilities. The initiative … Read more
February 6, 2024 at 06:18AM A recent report from Google revealed that over 60 zero-day vulnerabilities in Apple, Adobe, Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla products since 2016 are linked to commercial spyware vendors. These companies allegedly aid governments in targeting individuals, contradicting claims of lawful surveillance. The vendors pay millions for exploits, and Google’s Threat Analysis … Read more
February 6, 2024 at 05:07AM Summary: Governments’ increased interest in spying on activists and dissidents has led to a surge in commercial spyware vendors (CSVs). These vendors exploit zero-day vulnerabilities and provide end-to-end surveillance capabilities for substantial sums. Google’s report highlights the concerning growth of CSV operations globally, prompting the Biden Administration to issue an … Read more
February 5, 2024 at 06:06PM The Biden administration has implemented a new policy allowing visa restrictions on individuals involved in misusing commercial spyware to target journalists, activists, and marginalized communities. This action aims to address privacy and human rights concerns. Notably, the policy could affect citizens of any country and reflects growing international concerns about … Read more
February 5, 2024 at 03:26PM The State Department led by Antony J. Blinken introduced a visa restriction policy targeting individuals linked to the misuse of commercial spyware, citing it as a threat to human rights and U.S. security. The Biden Administration issued an Executive Order to prevent the use of mercenary surveillance tools, and the … Read more