Meta has restricted the operation of an international spy network.
Meta Platforms has announced that it has restricted the malicious activity of eight companies from Italy, Spain and the United Arab Emirates engaged in custom espionage. The developed spyware targets iOS, Android, and Windows devices. This information is part of the Adversarial Threat Report for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Among the companies involved in malware development were Cy4Gate / ELT Group, RCS Labs, IPS Intelligence, Variston IT, TrueL IT, Protect Electronic Systems, Negg Group and Mollitiam Industries. The software of these companies is able to collect information from devices, including location, photos, contacts, calendar, email, messages in social networks and messengers, as well as activate the microphone, camera and screenshot creation function.
The firms activities were not limited to the development of spyware. Companies also engaged in data collection from social media pages, social engineering, and phishing, targeting platforms such as Facebook Instagram, X, YouTube, Skype, GitHub, Reddit, Google, LinkedIn, Quora, Tumblr, VK, Flickr, TikTok, SnapChat, Gettr, Viber, Twitch and Telegram.
Specifically, it was found that a network of fake accounts linked to RCS Labs fraudulently convinced users to provide phone numbers and email addresses, as well as click on malicious links to install intelligence tools unnoticed. Meta also took action against networks from China, Myanmar, and Ukraine, removing more than 2,000 malicious Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups.
The surveillance industry continues to evolve, using new and unexpected forms. For example, the Patternz tracking tool was recently revealed, which uses real-time data and historical user ad data to track mobile devices. In addition, the Swedish company Enea disclosed a previously unknown MMS Fingerprint technology, allegedly used by NSO Group to install Pegasus spyware on the device.
Earlier, Google singled out the activities of several companies involved in the development of spyware, and called on the United States and its allies to actively fight the cyber espionage industry. The company claims that although such programs are often positioned as national security tools for government agencies, in fact they are often used to hack the phones of representatives of civil society, the political opposition and journalists.
Meta Platforms has announced that it has restricted the malicious activity of eight companies from Italy, Spain and the United Arab Emirates engaged in custom espionage. The developed spyware targets iOS, Android, and Windows devices. This information is part of the Adversarial Threat Report for the fourth quarter of 2023.
Among the companies involved in malware development were Cy4Gate / ELT Group, RCS Labs, IPS Intelligence, Variston IT, TrueL IT, Protect Electronic Systems, Negg Group and Mollitiam Industries. The software of these companies is able to collect information from devices, including location, photos, contacts, calendar, email, messages in social networks and messengers, as well as activate the microphone, camera and screenshot creation function.
The firms activities were not limited to the development of spyware. Companies also engaged in data collection from social media pages, social engineering, and phishing, targeting platforms such as Facebook Instagram, X, YouTube, Skype, GitHub, Reddit, Google, LinkedIn, Quora, Tumblr, VK, Flickr, TikTok, SnapChat, Gettr, Viber, Twitch and Telegram.
Specifically, it was found that a network of fake accounts linked to RCS Labs fraudulently convinced users to provide phone numbers and email addresses, as well as click on malicious links to install intelligence tools unnoticed. Meta also took action against networks from China, Myanmar, and Ukraine, removing more than 2,000 malicious Facebook and Instagram accounts, pages, and groups.
The surveillance industry continues to evolve, using new and unexpected forms. For example, the Patternz tracking tool was recently revealed, which uses real-time data and historical user ad data to track mobile devices. In addition, the Swedish company Enea disclosed a previously unknown MMS Fingerprint technology, allegedly used by NSO Group to install Pegasus spyware on the device.
Earlier, Google singled out the activities of several companies involved in the development of spyware, and called on the United States and its allies to actively fight the cyber espionage industry. The company claims that although such programs are often positioned as national security tools for government agencies, in fact they are often used to hack the phones of representatives of civil society, the political opposition and journalists.
