Data collection and Media - Cyber Security Informer

New LightSpy spyware variant comes with enhanced data collection features targeting social media platforms

Security Affairs

FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Researchers found an updated LightSpy spyware with enhanced data collection features targeting social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. have found an updated version of the LightSpy spyware that supports an expanded set of data collection features to target social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Data collection

Data collection Spyware Media Surveillance

Apps That Are Spying on Your Location

Schneier on Security

JANUARY 10, 2025

Because much of the collection is occurring through the advertising ecosystem—not code developed by the app creators themselves—this data collection is likely happening both without users and even app developers knowledge.

Data collection

Data collection Advertising Hacking Media

Operation Secure: INTERPOL dismantles 20,000+ malicious IPs in major cybercrime crackdown

Security Affairs

JUNE 11, 2025

The operation led to the seizure of 41 servers, over 100 GB of data collected, and 32 arrests, dismantling 79% of the identified threats. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Police analyzed over 1,700 intel items from INTERPOL, uncovering 117 command-and-control servers used for phishing, fraud, and social media scams.

Cybercrime

Cybercrime Data collection Scams Cyber threats

How threat actors can use generative artificial intelligence?

Security Affairs

DECEMBER 1, 2024

Deepfakes are media content—such as videos, images, or audio—created using GAI to realistically manipulate faces, voices, or even entire events. For example, these campaigns leverage fake social media accounts to post questions and comments about divisive internal issues in the U.S.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence Phishing Cybercrime Media

Election season raises fears for nearly a third of people who worry their vote could be leaked

Malwarebytes

OCTOBER 15, 2024

The network of data brokers that political campaigns rely on to target voters with ads is enormous, as one Washington Post reporter found in 2020, with “3,000 data points on every voter.” Escaping this data collection regime has proven difficult for most people.

Scams

Scams Identity Theft Cybercrime Accountability

Web 3.0 Requires Data Integrity

Schneier on Security

APRIL 3, 2025

The increase in personal data, and the emergence of interactive platforms for e-commerce, social media, and online everything demanded both data protection and user privacy. Interactive features and user-generated content transformed the Web from a read-only medium to a participatory platform. Confidentiality became paramount.

Architecture

Architecture Artificial Intelligence Internet Internet

Your location or browsing habits could lead to price increases when buying online

Malwarebytes

JANUARY 20, 2025

” Well, this is exactly the deal: By exposing their private data online, they might well end up with companies charging them more. Understand how the company will be using your data Block web tracking wherever you can. It’s a no brainer that we should all be sharing as little as possible.

Surveillance

Surveillance Artificial Intelligence Consumer Protection Data collection

Texas is the first state to ban DeepSeek on government devices

Security Affairs

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Texas bans DeepSeek and RedNote on government devices to block Chinese data-harvesting AI, citing security risks. Texas Governor Greg Abbott banned Chinese AI company DeepSeek and Chinese-owned social media apps Xiaohongshu (RedNote) and Lemon8 from all state-issued devices. Texas and other states banned TikTok on government devices.

Government

Government Artificial Intelligence Media Data collection

Crooks target DeepSeek users with fake sponsored Google ads to deliver malware

Security Affairs

MARCH 27, 2025

In January, Italys Data Protection Authority Garante asked the AI firm DeepSeek to clarify its data collection, sources, purposes, legal basis, and storage, citing potential risks to user data. The removals cause is still unclear, but it may be a defensive action following scrutiny from the Data Protection Authority.

Malware

Malware Data collection Advertising Media

IT threat evolution Q3 2024

SecureList

NOVEMBER 29, 2024

CloudSorcerer is a sophisticated cyber-espionage tool used for stealth monitoring, data collection and exfiltration via Microsoft, Yandex and Dropbox cloud infrastructures. The data collected about the targets’ companies and contact information could be used to spy on people of interest and lay the groundwork for future attacks.

Energy and Utilities

Energy and Utilities Ransomware Malware Government

Why is your data worth so much? | Unlocked 403 cybersecurity podcast (S2E4)

We Live Security

JULY 22, 2025

Their conversation pulls back the curtain on how social media, apps, and websites gobble up, analyze, and use your personal information , as well as why this relentless data gathering may pose hidden risks, especially for children.

Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Threat Reports Data collection Media

Improving Cloud-VPN Resiliency to DoS Attacks With IKE Throttling

Cisco Security

AUGUST 7, 2025

The data collected is subsequently leveraged to trigger additional responses during IKE flooding scenarios, such as dynamically blacklisting malicious IPs and identifying legitimate users with potential misconfigurations that generate excessive IKE traffic. Ask a question and stay connected with Cisco Security on social media.

VPN

VPN Internet Internet Media

How ads weirdly know your screen brightness, headphone jack use, and location, with Tim Shott (Lock and Code S06E05)

Malwarebytes

MARCH 10, 2025

In January, a location data broker named Gravy Analytics was hacked, with the alleged cybercriminal behind the attack posting an enormous amount of data online as proof. A representative for Grindr echoed the sentiment: Grindr has never worked with or provided data to Gravy Analytics.

Mobile

Mobile Advertising Data collection Hacking

Protect Your Privacy: Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2025

eSecurity Planet

JUNE 25, 2025

Without spending anything, you can access rich media features, group chats, voice/video calls, and AI-powered tools like smart replies, all in one place. Run by a nonprofit and funded by donations, there are no ads, trackers, or data collection in Signal. Key features E2EE on messages, calls, and media Minimal data collection.

Encryption

Encryption Data collection Backups Accountability

Protect Your Privacy: Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2025

eSecurity Planet

JUNE 25, 2025

Without spending anything, you can access rich media features, group chats, voice/video calls, and AI-powered tools like smart replies, all in one place. Run by a nonprofit and funded by donations, there are no ads, trackers, or data collection in Signal. Key features E2EE on messages, calls, and media Minimal data collection.

Encryption

Encryption Data collection Backups Accountability

16 billion passwords leaked across Apple, Google, more: What to know and how to protect yourself

Zero Day

JUNE 22, 2025

PT Moor Studio/Getty With so much news about data breaches, you have to be careful not to panic each time you hear of a new one. Also: The best VPN services right now Further, Cybernews blamed other media outlets for claiming that Facebook, Google, and Apple credentials were leaked. Sounds scary, right?

Passwords

Passwords Data breaches Password Management Identity Theft

Cloud Atlas seen using a new tool in its attacks

SecureList

DECEMBER 23, 2024

All data collected this way is saved in a TMP alternate data stream and forwarded to the C2 server by the VBShower::Backdoor component. It iterates through local drives and removable media in search of files with the extensions DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PDF, TXT, RTF and RAR.

Encryption

Encryption Penetration Testing Malware Phishing

Privacy Roundup: Week 11 of Year 2025

Security Boulevard

MARCH 17, 2025

Data Broker Brags About Having Highly Detailed Personal Information on Nearly All Internet Users Gizmodo An owner of a data broker business brags and showcases his company's ability to deliver "personalized messaging at scale." Of course, personalized in this context means leveraging extensive amounts of data collected on people.

Surveillance

Surveillance Data breaches Spyware Malware

Heard about the 16 billion passwords leak? Here are the facts and how to protect yourself

Zero Day

JUNE 20, 2025

PT Moor Studio/Getty With so much news about data breaches, you have to be careful not to panic each time you hear of a new one. Also: The best VPN services right now Further, Cybernews blamed other media outlets for claiming that Facebook, Google, and Apple credentials were leaked. Sounds scary, right?

Passwords

Passwords Data breaches Password Management Identity Theft

Security Affairs newsletter Round 513 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Security Affairs

MARCH 2, 2025

Soldier Charged in AT&T Hack Searched Can Hacking Be Treason Group-IB contributes to joint operation of Royal Thai Police and Singapore Police Force leading to arrest of cybercriminal behind more than 90 data leaks worldwide UAC-0173 against the Notary Office of Ukraine (CERT-UA#13738) North Korea Responsible for $1.5

Cybercrime

Cybercrime Hacking Ransomware Cryptocurrency

Security Affairs newsletter Round 509 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Security Affairs

FEBRUARY 2, 2025

Cisco warns of a ClamAV bug with PoC exploit International Press Newsletter Cybercrime UnitedHealth Estimates Change Healthcare Hack Impacted About 190 Million People TalkTalk investigating data breach after hacker claims theft of customer data Law enforcement takes down two largest cybercrime forums in the world New York Blood Center Enterprises (..)

Data breaches

Data breaches Cybercrime Healthcare Hacking

The State of Digital Trust in 2025 - Consumers Still Shoulder the Responsibility

Thales Cloud Protection & Licensing

MARCH 19, 2025

Governments did better Government services saw the most notable improvement, rising from 37% trust in 2024 to 42% in 2025, driven by enhanced regulatory frameworks like the EUs Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and improved transparency in data handling.

Insurance

Insurance Banking Authentication Data privacy

IVPN review: This VPN takes privacy to the next level

Zero Day

JUNE 27, 2025

I went through the report, which mostly showed that they haven't handed over any user data despite getting several orders to do so. Even if data collection is your primary concern, IVPN operates a clean zero-logs policy.

VPN

VPN Password Management Small Business Internet

72% of people are worried their data is being misused by the government, and that’s not all…

Malwarebytes

APRIL 9, 2025

A robust 75% said they opt out of data collection, as possible, and 23% have gone a step further, using a data removal service to help clean up any personal information that is easily found online. Elsewhere, 69% of people said they use an ad blocker for online browsing, and 75% of people opt out of data collection, as possible.

Government

Government Identity Theft Data collection Accountability

Does your generative AI protect your privacy? New study ranks them best to worst

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The companies that were ordered to respond own some of the household social media and streaming service names. Some of the specific information that the FTC was looking for included: How social media and video streaming services collect, use, track, estimate, or derive personal and demographic information.

Surveillance

Surveillance Media Data collection Advertising

Poland and Lithuania fear that data collected via FaceApp could be misused

Security Affairs

JULY 19, 2019

Many security experts are warning of the risks of using the popular app, threat actors could be potentially interested in data collected by FaceApp. Poland’s digital affairs ministry is investigating into the app and it is evaluating the security risks posed by FaceApp to the personal data of its users. Pierluigi Paganini.

Data collection

Data collection Wireless Advertising Risk

Airlines Secretly Selling Passenger Data to the Government

Schneier on Security

JUNE 12, 2025

This is news : A data broker owned by the country’s major airlines, including Delta, American Airlines, and United, collected U.S. The data includes passenger names, their full flight itineraries, and financial details. Another article.

Government

Government Media Data collection Data privacy

TikTok Can Now Collect Biometric Data

Schneier on Security

JUNE 14, 2021

Reached for comment, TikTok could not confirm what product developments necessitated the addition of biometric data to its list of disclosures about the information it automatically collects from users, but said it would ask for consent in the case such data collection practices began.

Data collection

Data collection Media

FTC report exposes massive data collection by social media brands - how to protect yourself

Zero Day

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024

The world's biggest online platforms collect way more data than previously known and make it very hard for users to opt out.

Data collection

Data collection Media

Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram blocked in Turkey as Idlib military crisis escalates

Security Affairs

FEBRUARY 28, 2020

Network data collected by the NetBlocks internet observatory confirm that Turkey has blocked access to social media as Idlib military crisis escalates. Major social media platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, were not reachable since 11:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. ” reported NetBlocks.

Media

Media Data collection Internet Internet

New LightSpy spyware variant comes with enhanced data collection features targeting social media platforms

Apps That Are Spying on Your Location

Trending Sources

Operation Secure: INTERPOL dismantles 20,000+ malicious IPs in major cybercrime crackdown

How threat actors can use generative artificial intelligence?

Election season raises fears for nearly a third of people who worry their vote could be leaked

Web 3.0 Requires Data Integrity

Your location or browsing habits could lead to price increases when buying online

Texas is the first state to ban DeepSeek on government devices

Crooks target DeepSeek users with fake sponsored Google ads to deliver malware

IT threat evolution Q3 2024

Why is your data worth so much? | Unlocked 403 cybersecurity podcast (S2E4)

Improving Cloud-VPN Resiliency to DoS Attacks With IKE Throttling

How ads weirdly know your screen brightness, headphone jack use, and location, with Tim Shott (Lock and Code S06E05)

Protect Your Privacy: Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2025

Protect Your Privacy: Best Secure Messaging Apps in 2025

16 billion passwords leaked across Apple, Google, more: What to know and how to protect yourself

Cloud Atlas seen using a new tool in its attacks

Privacy Roundup: Week 11 of Year 2025

Heard about the 16 billion passwords leak? Here are the facts and how to protect yourself

Security Affairs newsletter Round 513 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

Security Affairs newsletter Round 509 by Pierluigi Paganini – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

The State of Digital Trust in 2025 - Consumers Still Shoulder the Responsibility

IVPN review: This VPN takes privacy to the next level

72% of people are worried their data is being misused by the government, and that’s not all…

Does your generative AI protect your privacy? New study ranks them best to worst

Generative AI and privacy are best frenemies - a new study ranks the best and worst offenders

This hidden Google Maps feature is making people emotional - here's why

US government wants health trackers for all? What it means for your health, privacy, and wallet

I changed 3 settings on my PS5 for an instant performance boost

5 tips for building foundation models for AI

I changed 10 settings on my Fire TV for better performance and fewer distractions

AI Insights DualMedia: Transforming Digital Engagement Through Artificial Intelligence

Sick of AI in your search results? Try these 7 Google alternatives with old-school, AI-free charm

Your Circular Ring just got a big health tracking update - for free

Most AI projects are abandoned - 5 ways to ensure your data efforts succeed

The fastest US mobile carriers and ISPs in 2025, ranked

Facebook Launches 'Privacy Center' to Educate Users on Data Collection and Privacy Options

Uscrapper: powerful OSINT webscraper for personal data collection

FTC finds social media and video streaming services engaged in vast surveillance of consumers

Poland and Lithuania fear that data collected via FaceApp could be misused

Airlines Secretly Selling Passenger Data to the Government

TikTok Can Now Collect Biometric Data

FTC report exposes massive data collection by social media brands - how to protect yourself

Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram blocked in Turkey as Idlib military crisis escalates

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