Spyware
NSO used real people’s location data to pitch its contact-tracing tech, researchers say
Spyware maker NSO Group used real phone location data on thousands of unsuspecting people when it demonstrated its new COVID-19 contact-tracing system to governments and journalists, researchers have
Google, Cisco and VMware join Microsoft to oppose NSO Group in WhatsApp spyware case
A coalition of companies have filed an amicus brief in support of a legal case brought by WhatsApp against Israeli intelligence firm NSO Group, accusing the company of using an undisclosed vulnerabil
Decrypted: The tech police use against the public
In this week's Decrypted, we look at the technologies that police use against the people.
US intelligence bill takes aim at commercial spyware makers
A newly released draft intelligence bill, passed by the Senate Intelligence Committee last week, would require the government to detail the threats posed by commercial spyware and surveillance technol
Ex-NSA hacker drops new zero-day doom for Zoom
Zoom’s troubled year just got worse. Now that a large portion of the world is working from home to ride out the coronavirus pandemic, Zoom’s popularity has rocketed, but also has led to an
How to identify and remove KidsGuard ‘stalkerware’ from your phone
We reported today on KidsGuard, a powerful mobile spyware. Not only is the app secretly installed on thousands of Android phones without the owners’ consent, it also left a server open and unpro
Facebook’s use of Onavo spyware faces questions in EU antitrust probe — report
Facebook’s use of the Onavo spyware VPN app it acquired in 2013 — and used to inform its 2014 purchase of the then rival WhatsApp messaging platform — is on the radar of Europe’
UN calls for investigation after Saudis linked to Bezos phone hack
United Nations experts are calling for an investigation after a forensic report said Saudi officials “most likely” used a mobile hacking tool, such as one built by the NSO Group, to hack i
Facebook Viewpoints pays users for well-being surveys & tasks
Facebook is launching a new market research, task, and product testing program that lets users earn money. Starting today, people in the US who are over 18 can download Viewpoints and participate in a
Tibetans hit by the same mobile malware targeting Uyghurs
A recently revealed mobile malware campaign targeting Uyghur Muslims also ensnared a number of senior Tibetan officials and activists, according to new research. Security researchers at the University
Apple patches previously fixed security bug that allowed iPhone jailbreak
Apple has fixed a security flaw for a second time after it accidentally reintroduced an old bug in a recent software update. Released Monday, iOS 12.4.1 contains a security fix that was first patched
Facebook collected device data on 187,000 users using banned snooping app
Facebook obtained personal and sensitive device data on about 187,000 users of its now-defunct Research app, which Apple banned earlier this year after the app violated its rules. The social media gia
Malware researcher Marcus Hutchins pleads guilty, ending his legal case
Malware researcher Marcus Hutchins has pleaded guilty to two counts of creating and selling a powerful banking malware, ending a long and protracted battle with U.S. prosecutors. Hutchins, a British n
Australia passes ‘dangerous’ anti-encryption law after bipartisan compromise
Update, 12/6: The bill has now passed after the Labor party agreed to drop its proposed amendments — you can read full details of the bill here. Australia’s controversial anti-encryption
Mobile spyware maker leaks 2 million records
mSpy, a commercial spyware solution designed to help you spy on kids and partners, has leaked over 2 million records including software purchases and iCloud usernames and authentication tokens of devi
Some HP laptops are hiding a deactivated keylogger
Researcher Michael Myng found a deactivated keylogger in a piece of software found on over 460 HP laptop models. A full list of affected laptops is here. The keylogger is deactivated by default but co
Amnesty, EFF, Privacy International Put Out Free Anti-Surveillance Tool
Resistance is digital. Human rights charity Amnesty International is one of several organizations behind the release of a free, open source anti-surveillance tool called Detekt.
Ha! Face! FTC seeks to permanently bar bullshit scareware marketing, freezes offenders’ assets
According to the FTC, over a million – a million! – people have been tricked “into buying computer security products such as WinFixer, WinAntivirus, DriveCleaner, ErrorSafe, and XP Antivirus,”
Spyware company Gator sheds its skin yet again
So there’s this new startup called NebuAd. I know, sounds promising already, right? Well, NebuAd does packet inspection, tracking users, the sites they go to, the ads they click, and so on. Not
Help-Key: How to parent-proof your parent's PC
This last holiday weekend, I was at my mother’s house and, just as I do every Thanksgiving, I spent about an hour un-doing the damage they’d done on their PC. I can’t convince them t