Neowin News Feed for: Adware, Spyware

Russia is using stolen U.S. made spyware to hack iPhones in Ukraine in a massive attack

Karthik Mudaliar — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:50:01 +0000

Russia has repurposed stolen U.S.-made multi-million-dollar spyware to attack and steal personal data from the Ukrainian government and citizens. Read more...

Israeli spyware maker NSO Group fined $167M for WhatsApp spyware attack

David Uzondu — Wed, 07 May 2025 06:20:01 +0000

Meta has won over $167 million from NSO Group following a 6-year battle over the Israeli firm's Pegasus spyware. Read more...

YouTube improving viewer experience by showing fewer disruptive mid-roll ads

Jay Kakade — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 07:14:01 +0000

To enhance viewer experience and retain more viewers to a video, YouTube is improving the quality of mid-roll ads by showing fewer ads that may feel disruptive to the viewer. Read more...

WhatsApp says it has disrupted an Israel-based hacking campaign targeting journalists

David Uzondu — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 01:30:01 +0000

WhatsApp has acknowledged and claims to have thwarted a hacking campaign that targeted journalists through its platform. Read more...

Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Amazon partner admits your phone could listen to everything

Sayan Sen — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 08:02:01 +0000

An advertising partner of Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Amazon admitted that your smartphones and other devices can listen to everything you say for ad targeting. Read more...

Windows XP era unofficial anti-spyware comes to Windows 11 as a fork

Sayan Sen — Wed, 03 Jul 2024 08:28:01 +0000

A Windows XP-era third-party application called xp-AntiSpy has made a comeback as a fork on Windows 11. The app, as the name suggests, was built with the goal of being an anti-spyware for Windows XP. Read more...

Microsoft seemingly admits "ads" on Windows 11 Start menu are in the works

Sayan Sen — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 06:06:01 +0000

Microsoft may finally be coming clean. With a new hidden change, the tech giant seems to acknowledge that "ads" on the Windows 11 Start menu are real, though it could also mean more ads are coming. Read more...

Another ex-Windows head denounces Microsoft after it got slammed for "bad" performance

Sayan Sen — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 15:20:01 +0000

Microsoft recently got slammed by an ex-engineer for the "comically bad" performance of Windows 11. Following that, another former Windows guru has now criticized the company with a dose of sarcasm. Read more...

Microsoft starts stuffing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar — Sat, 13 Apr 2024 05:50:01 +0000

Microsoft has started testing ads in the Windows 11 Start menu. Notably, the Start menu shows ads in the form of app recommendations and comes hot off the heels of the latest insider build update. Read more...

Apple warns iPhone users in 92 countries of 'mercenary spyware' attack

Omer Dursun — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:16:01 +0000

Apple has sent out security alerts to iPhone users warning of sophisticated spyware attacks targeting specific individuals. The company detected a "mercenary" hacking campaign and notified people. Read more...

Microsoft may want to add a dedicated Windows 11 button for ads and promos

Sayan Sen — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 07:54:02 +0000

Microsoft has been making lots of changes to the recommended section where it promotes apps and websites. The company may now be looking to add a dedicated button on Windows 11 just for that. Read more...

Microsoft's Windows 11 Copilot experience gets worse with it now showing ads on desktop

Sayan Sen — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 09:24:01 +0000

Microsoft recently debuted its Copilot feature on Windows 11 as a preview. However, users have faced some issues related to wallpapers and GPUs. And the experience is set to get worse now with ads. Read more...

FBI allegedly used NSO Group spyware after Biden's ban

Omer Dursun — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 22:08:01 +0000

The FBI has been accused of using NSO Group's spyware to track suspects in Mexico, despite Biden's ban on the use of commercial spyware. It claims it was misled by a private contractor. Read more...

Microsoft now showing ads for Teams when you try to "Get Help" on Windows

Sayan Sen — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 09:30:01 +0000

Microsoft loves placing ads and promos for its products and services in various places across its OS. The latest place where it is placing ads for Teams Essentials is inside the Get Help app. Read more...

Microsoft tries to steal users with Bing ads when they visit Google Bard in Edge

Taras Buria — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 12:00:01 +0000

When visiting Google Bard's website, users noticed that Microsoft Edge Canary and Dev now show a large Bing AI ad in the browser's address bar, offering to compare the two AI-powered chatbots. Read more...

DoNotSpy11 comes to Windows 11 22H2 Moment 2, Windows 10 22H2

Sayan Sen — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 07:12:01 +0000

If you are concerned about spyware and privacy on your Windows 11 Moment 2 / Windows 10 PC, you can try a popular third-party utility "DoNotSpy11". However, bear in mind that it is unsigned software. Read more...

The Biden Administration bans the use of commercial spyware by the US government

John Callaham — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 19:30:01 +0000

The order does not include a list of specific spyware apps or companies that have been banned by the Biden Administration. However, a number of government employees have had spyware placed on devices. Read more...

New video shows how much more data Windows 11 sends compared to older versions

Taras Buria — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 15:32:01 +0000

A new video published on The PC Security Channel reveals how much more data fresh Windows 11 installation sends to various first and third-party servers than older Windows releases, such as XP. Read more...

Microsoft is now pushing ads and promos in Windows 11 Start menu, but you can disable them

Sayan Sen — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:40:01 +0000

For a while now, Microsoft has been testing ads and promos for its products and features on Windows 11 with tidbits seen in File Explorer, Microsoft Store, and now in the Start menu also. Read more...

Beware: Microsoft Edge found serving malicious tech support scam ads

Sayan Sen — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 22:34:01 +0000

Microsoft Edge has been found to be serving malicious tech support scam ads. While the ads appear harmless from a distance, they are designed to redirect targets to malicious domains. Read more...

Microsoft stopped an Austrian firm selling spyware enabling unauthorized surveillance

Alap Naik Desai — Wed, 27 Jul 2022 23:00:02 +0000

Microsoft's Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) claims it caught an Austrian company selling spyware called Subzero. The malware relied on zero-day vulnerabilities, which have been patched. Read more...

'Alien' spyware is loading Predator malware on Android devices, warns Google

Alap Naik Desai — Mon, 23 May 2022 16:00:01 +0000

Sophisticated "Alien" spyware is targeting Android users to download "Predator" malware, which can record audio, hide apps, and perform several more nefarious activities. Google has sent out patches. Read more...

Columbia Univ builds breakthrough algorithm that stops spying microphones from listening

Sayan Sen — Wed, 20 Apr 2022 05:18:02 +0000

The Columbia University's computer science department has developed a new algorithm that can be used to stop microphones and automatic speech recognition systems from spying on the public. Read more...

Beware: Powershell Windows Toolbox that helped install Google Play on Windows 11 is malware

Sayan Sen — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 17:24:01 +0000

The Powershell Windows Toolbox that was hosted on GitHub was found to contain malicious files. This third-party Windows tool claimed to install Google Play Store, debloat Windows 11, and more. Read more...

A new ad from Microsoft for the Bing Wallpaper App shows up on Edge

Sayan Sen — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 15:16:01 +0000

Microsoft's Bing will now serve you some ads for its Bing Wallpaper App when you use the search engine on the company's Edge browser. The ad can be a banner or a pop-up that asks you to try the app. Read more...

Microsoft reportedly considers adding more ads to File Explorer in Windows 11 [Update]

Taras Buria — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 19:20:01 +0000

Alongside some much-needed features and quality improvements, Microsoft appears to be testing new ads in Windows 11. Users report seeing Microsoft Editor banners directly in File Explorer. Read more...

State Department iPhones compromised by NSO Group spyware

Paul Hill — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 08:04:01 +0000

NSO Group software has allegedly been used against U.S. State Department employees based in or related to Uganda. It's not clear yet who was responsible for deploying the software though. Read more...

Apple warns Thai activists they are targets of ‘state-sponsored attackers'

Karthik Mudaliar — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 15:24:01 +0000

Apple is sending warnings to Thai activists about a possibility of state-sponsored attacks which can allow them to remote access sensitive data or get access to communications, camera and microphone. Read more...

Apple is suing NSO Group for spying on its customers

Paul Hill — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 18:56:01 +0000

Apple has decided to sue NSO Group and its parent company for using exploits to spy on Apple users. The number of people targeted by NSO Group was small but they held sensitive occupations. Read more...

Fake Windows 11 installers are being used to distribute malware

Usama Jawad — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 06:02:01 +0000

Kaspersky has issued an advisory about people getting their machines infected with malware by downloading fake Windows 11 installers like "86307_windows 11 build 21996.1 x64 + activator.exe". Read more...

Audacity's privacy policy update effectively turns it into spyware

Mehrotra A — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 12:24:01 +0000

In April Muse group acquired Audacity and has now changed the privacy policy to include data collection and selling. This has effectively forced users to uninstall Audacity and label it as spyware. Read more...

Samsung devices come with a feature sourced from shady Chinese company

Rajesh Pandey — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:42:01 +0000

A Redditor has accused Samsung of pre-installing spyware from a shady Chinese company on all its Android devices. However, the reality is a bit different as clarified by Samsung itself. Read more...

Spyware app reportedly leaks millions of its own customers' sensitive records online [Update]

Hamza Jawad — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 12:32:01 +0000

mSpy, makers of a phone monitoring app, have leaked private information of millions of its paying customers in an online database. This isn't the first time mSpy has been involved in such a situation. Read more...

Unchecky 1.2

Razvan Serea — Sun, 08 Apr 2018 22:22:02 +0000

Unchecky's primary feature is automatic unchecking of unrelated offers, such as potentially unwanted programs, offers to change your homepage or your search engine. Read more...

Facebook's VPN protects your data by, ahem, collecting and tracking it

Muhammad Jarir Kanji — Wed, 14 Feb 2018 08:12:01 +0000

Facebook has now started promoting its Onavo VPN by integrating it into the settings on the Facebook app. Despite it's claims of 'protection', the VPN also allows the company to track your data. Read more...

Newly discovered 'Skygofree' is among the most powerful spyware on Android

Muhammad Jarir Kanji — Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:30:01 +0000

Discovered by Kaspersky Lab, 'Skygofree' features previously unseen features like location-based audio recordings and the ability to force an infected device to connect to a compromised Wi-Fi network. Read more...

HP is installing spyware on its machines disguised as an "analytics client"

John Keefer — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 19:50:01 +0000

The season of giving is approaching and HP is trying to include its customers, but in a way that few will find welcome. It appears a new piece of analytics spyware is installing without permission. Read more...

Unchecky 1.1

Razvan Serea — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 07:56:01 +0000

Unchecky's primary feature is automatic unchecking of unrelated offers, such as potentially unwanted programs, offers to change your homepage or your search engine. Read more...

Lenovo's adware push will cost it $3.5 million in fines

John Keefer — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 20:32:01 +0000

The FTC and 32 different states sued the laptop maker over its pre-installation of adware that could have compromised the security of its users. Several FTC stipulations go along with the fine. Read more...

Facebook malware adapts to your web browser, operating system [Update]

Justin Luna — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 16:04:01 +0000

A security researcher recently discovered a new malware attack on Facebook that uses social engineering. It can even detect a user's system settings so they can be targeted with appropriate adware. Read more...