Neowin News Feed for: 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...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

A French firm offered its software to check "if your son is gay"

Justin Luna — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 15:42:01 +0000

Remote access solutions firm Fireworld received flak after it published an article saying how its spying software can be used to check if a parent's son is gay. The writeup has been taken down since. Read more...

Lipizzan malware for Android could spy on users and steal their data

Justin Luna — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 13:32:01 +0000

Android security researchers have recently found a new spyware called Lipizzan that made its way into the Google Play Store. The program could silently gather sensitive data about the victim. Read more...

Fruitfly malware for macOS left undetected for years spying on computers

Justin Luna — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 14:42:01 +0000

A piece of malware for macOS, initially discovered back in January, has been found with a new variant, which discreetly spies on host computers, steals sensitive files, and run background processes. Read more...

Chinese authorities reportedly forcing its Muslim population to install spyware

Dreyer Smit — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 08:18:01 +0000

When it comes to spying on its citizens, China is way ahead of its peers, and have recently started forcing the citizens in the province of Xingjiang to install spyware on their Android phones. Read more...

CIA-created spyware called Athena released by WikiLeaks, targets all major Windows versions

Muhammad Jarir Kanji — Sun, 21 May 2017 03:12:02 +0000

WikiLeaks this week published details regarding the CIA-created 'Athena' spyware. It targets all major versions of Windows and allows attackers to take total control of the system and steal data. Read more...

Poll: Have you ever been infected by ransomware, malware or viruses?

Justin Luna — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 15:22:01 +0000

Malware are nasty programs that can create quite a havoc on our computers. As time passes by, they evolve exponentially. We would love to know your experience with these things in our latest poll! Read more...

Nigerian email scammers exposed after infecting themselves with malware

Justin Luna — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:16:01 +0000

A group of scammers from Nigeria infected themselves with malware, which led to the revelation of how their crime works, and how they manage to steal money from businesses worldwide. Read more...

Snowden: iPhone has secret software that can be remotely activated to spy on people

Daniel Moxon — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 00:10:01 +0000

According to Edward Snowden, the iPhone has embedded software hidden from its users that allow government agencies to spy on them without their knowledge. Read more...

EFF and Amnesty International back anti-spying software

Vlad Dudau — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 13:04:01 +0000

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and Amnesty International are just two of the big backers behind Detekt, an open-source software program that detects spyware commonly used by governments. Read more...

Dozens of fake cell phone towers discovered eavesdropping on Android devices

Jett Goldsmith — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 08:00:01 +0000

Dozens of fake cell phone towers -- which eavesdrop on Android devices, and can even install spyware remotely on the OS -- have been discovered throughout the United States by security experts. Read more...

Gamma International, a company which produces spyware software for governments, has been hacked

Steven Johns — Thu, 07 Aug 2014 11:13:16 +0000

A redditor has dumped online 40GB of files from Gamma International's servers, including the FinFisher Suite spyware's source code, support history, and various internal documents. Read more...

Bitdefender: Free apps are the 'equivalent of [smartphone] spyware'

Vlad Dudau — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:23:26 +0000

Bitdefender is saying that free apps on iOS and Android are much more invasive than users would expect. They readily track your location, your contact list and your Device ID to serve ads to you. Read more...

FinSpy brings platform neutral spyware to smartphones

Tyler Holman — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 03:37:38 +0000

FinSpy Mobile, a new spyware tool being marketed to law enforcement, can gain total access to your phone, tracking and recording you. The really scary part? It's already fallen into the wrong hands. Read more...

Google 'Bouncer' aims to protect Android Market from malware

Andy Weir — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:54:42 +0000

Google has revealed details of a security system on its Android Market, with which it aims to tackle the scourge of malware, disguised as legitimate software, that has infected countless devices. Read more...

WP7 AVG "antivirus" app is possibly spyware

Tim Schiesser — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:36:45 +0000

It has been discovered that AVG's supposed "antivirus" software suite for Windows Phone 7 reports user data, including location data, back to AVG's servers, and fails to properly scan for viruses Read more...

comScore accused of stealing credit cards and passwords

Denis Wong — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:17:07 +0000

Credit card numbers, passwords, and Social Security Numbers are amongst the confidential data comScore is accused of siphoning via spyware-like software installed by users. Read more...

Phorm shares plummet due to BT putting them on hold

Sam Alderwick — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 10:52:51 +0000

Phorm, the controversial online advertising company, has watched its share prices plummet by 40 percent as BT made announcements that they had "taken a step out of Phorm". Although BT stated they were still interested... Read more...

Spyware Terminator 2.5.8.145

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:36:09 +0000

Millions of users worldwide rely on Spyware Terminator, winner of many awards and high ratings from industry experts and users. Its free comprehensive protection is comparable to competitors' paid versions! Spyware Terminator includes: ... Read more...