Zack Whittaker reports: Portuguese-language spyware called WebDetetive has been used to compromise more than 76,000 Android phones in recent years across South America, largely in Brazil. WebDetetive is also the latest phone spyware company in recent months to have been hacked. In an undated note seen by TechCrunch, the unnamed hackers described how they found and…
Category: Surveillance
Proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty Threatens to be an Expansive Global Surveillance Pact
Katitza Rodriguez of EFF writes: In the heart of New York City, a watershed moment for protecting users against unfettered government surveillance is unfolding at the sixth session of negotiations to formulate the UN Cybercrime Convention. Delegates from Member States have convened at UN Headquarters for talks this week and next that will shape the digital and…
NYS Report: Risks of facial recognition technology in schools likely outweigh the benefits
Joie Tyrrell reports: Risks associated with using facial recognition technology in schools likely outweigh the benefits of the biometrics tool, and educators should be cautious about its use, a report from the state’s Office of Information Technology Services found. The report, produced with assistance from the state’s Education Department and released earlier this month, examined…
Cellebrite asks cops to keep its phone hacking tech ‘hush hush’
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai reports: For years, cops and other government authorities all over the world have been using phone hacking technology provided by Cellebrite to unlock phones and obtain the data within. And the company has been keen on keeping the use of its technology “hush hush.” As part of the deal with government agencies, Cellebrite asks users to…