Google claims that Apple and Android phones are monitored by Italian spy software

Jimu Journalist Hu Xiuwen

Intern Peng Xinyi

According to Reuters on June 23, on June 23, local time, Google stated in a report that Apple and Android smartphones in Italy and Kazakhstan were monitored by a hacking tool of an Italian company.

According to the report, the "RCS Lab" company headquartered in Milan, Italy claims on his website that they have developed private news and contact tools for European law enforcement agencies to monitor target devices and contacts.

An Apple Store in New York, USA (Tuyuan Reuters)

The Italian and Kazakhstan government did not respond immediately. A spokesman for Apple said the company has revoked all known accounts and certificates related to the hacker activity.

However, "RCS Lab" said that its products and services are in line with European rules and can help law enforcement agencies investigate crimes. It also told the media that the "RCS Lab" personnel were not exposed, nor did they participate in any activities conducted by related customers, and condemned the behavior of how to abuse their products.

Google said that these suppliers are promoting the diffusion of hacker tools that are in danger, and also said that they have taken measures to protect their Android users and send them warnings on spy software.

It is reported that in recent years, the industry that has manufactured spy software for the government has been increasing, and more and more companies have developed interception tools for law enforcement agencies. Anti -surveillance activities have accused them of helping the government use such tools to use such tools to combat human rights and citizenship.

A security researcher said that the "RCS LAB" development tool may not be as hidden as PEGASUS, but it can still read messages and view passwords. PEGASUS is a mobile spy software that can break through various mobile phone operating systems. Even the Apple iOS system known as "the safest" is not spared.

Google researchers found that "RCS Lab" had previously collaborated with the controversially closed Italian spy company "hacker team", which also developed monitoring software for foreign governments to eavesdo mobile phones and computers. The "hacking team" went bankrupt after becoming a victim of a major hacker attack in 2015, causing a large number of internal documents to leak.

- END -