Technology giant Google said an Italian vendor used a “combination of tactics, including car downloads” to target mobile users on both iOS and Android devices in Italy and Kazakhstan.
The report said RCS Lab developed tools to spy on devices. Google said it had previously testified at the EU parliamentary hearing on “Big Tech and Spyware” about the work it has done to “monitor and disrupt the thriving industry”.
Read also: Google News returns to Spain, courtesy of the updated copyright law
RCS Lab said it complies with the European Union and will help investigate the cybercrime.
Google said it has taken steps to protect the Android operating system. The development amid Israel’s NSO Pegasus spyware that allegedly targeted journalists, activists and dissidents.
See: Google wrapped in religious controversy
Google said the spyware spread by making people click on the links in the messages. “Once clicked, the page tried to get the user to download and install a malicious app on Android or iOS,” he said.
“In some cases, it worked with the target’s ISP to disable the target’s mobile data connectivity,” Google said, adding: “Once disabled, the attacker sent a malicious link via SMS. asking the target to install an application to recover their data connectivity. “
“Google’s threat analysis group has tracked more than 30 vendors with different levels of sophistication who sell farms or surveillance capabilities to government-backed actors,” he said.
(With contributions from agencies)
WATCH WION LIVE HERE:
Now you can write to wionews.com and be part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.