Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Threads, names eight companies in its Adversarial Threat Report that spy on users on common platforms such as Windows, Android and iOS. These are companies that offer spying and surveillance services around the world for a fee. These companies conduct their espionage activities against people from all over the world.
According to Meta, these are eight companies from Italy, Spain and the United Arab Emirates: Cy4Gate, RCS Labs, IPS Intelligence, Variston IT, TrueL IT, Protect Electronic Systems, Negg Group and Mollitiam Industries.
The companies mentioned infiltrate iOS, Android and Windows devices by smuggling malware into them. They then collect or steal information about the devices used and their location data. They copy photos and media files, record contact details, calendar entries, emails and short messages and read the information from your social media apps and messengers. These malware programs also access microphones, cameras and the screenshot functions of the infected devices.
This malware collects information, steals data and launches phishing attacks on the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Youtube, Skype, Github, Reddit, Google, LinkedIn, Quora, Tumblr, VK, Flickr, TikTok, Snapchat, Gettr, Viber, Twitch and Telegram. In other words: The nasty malware from the eight spy companies mentioned snoops on all common platforms.
Meta then pats himself on the back and announces that his work against these spy companies will make their work more difficult and, if not stop the snooping completely, then at least reduce the scope of it.
To protect yourself from such malware, you should install a virus scanner:
Meta also points out that Russia, China and other countries are still trying to spread their propaganda as well camouflaged as possible on the Internet and social networks.
You can read the detailed English-language Adversarial Threat Report here.
