Government-linked Italian spyware maker caught distributing malicious Android apps
Posted by:
Sarah Collins
Spyware manufacturer SIO is suspected to be the mastermind behind ‘Spyrtacus’, a recently discovered spyware that has shifted from Google Play to phishing websites. Researchers have identified at least three Android apps as spyware linked to SIO, a company known for supplying products to the Italian government. The spyware, named ‘Spyrtacus’, can steal various data and access device microphones and cameras.
A complex paper trail links SIO to Spyrtacus through former startup ASIGINT, now a subsidiary of SIO, specializing in “computer wiretapping” software. Notable findings include SIO’s association with a spyware certification product named SIOAGENT owned by ASIGINT. Despite Google’s effective measures against Spyrtacus since 2022, reports indicate a shift towards fake Italian ISP websites for spyware distribution.
The Italian government’s history of collaborating with spyware developers raises concerns, with cases like Paragon Solutions violating ethical guidelines causing alarm. Italian authorities have been found involved in surveillance activities, further complicating the landscape for privacy. Amid growing ransomware threats in 2024, measures for effective ransomware protection are essential.
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