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The Internet Enabled Mass Surveillance. AI Will Enable Mass Spying.

Schneier on Security

Spying and surveillance are different but related things. If I hired that same private detective to put you under surveillance, I would get a different report: where you went, whom you talked to, what you purchased, what you did. Before the internet, putting someone under surveillance was expensive and time-consuming.

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Commercial spyware vendors are behind most zero-day exploits discovered by Google TAG

Security Affairs

Google’s TAG revealed that Commercial spyware vendors (CSV) were behind most of the zero-day vulnerabilities discovered in 2023. Surveillance software is used to spy on high-risk users, including journalists, human rights defenders, dissidents and opposition party politicians. ” concludes Google.

Spyware 104
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CISA adds bugs exploited by commercial surveillance spyware to Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog

Security Affairs

CISA has added nine flaws to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, including bugs exploited by commercial spyware on mobile devices. The exploits were used to install commercial spyware and malicious apps on targets’ devices. The threat actors behind the attacks used both zero-day and n-day exploits in their exploits.

Spyware 83
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Pegasus spyware used to spy on a Polish mayor

Security Affairs

The phone of an opposition-linked Polish mayor was infected with the powerful Pegasus spyware, local media reported. Reuters reported that the phone of an opposition-linked Polish mayor was infected with the Pegasus spyware. According to rumors, the Polish special services are using surveillance software to spy on government opponents.

Spyware 92
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Google links three exploitation frameworks to Spanish commercial spyware vendor Variston

Security Affairs

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. ” TAG concludes.

Spyware 101
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AI and Mass Spying

Schneier on Security

Spying and surveillance are different but related things. If I hired that same private detective to put you under surveillance, I would get a different report: where you went, whom you talked to, what you purchased, what you did. Before the internet, putting someone under surveillance was expensive and time-consuming.

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Surveillance firm’s leaked docs show the purchase of an $8M iOS RCE zero-day exploit?

Security Affairs

Leaked documents show the surveillance firm Intellexa offering exploits for iOS and Android devices for $8 Million. Intellexa is an Israeli surveillance firm founded by Israeli entrepreneur Tal Dilian, it offers surveillance and hacking solution to law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Pierluigi Paganini.