Apple and Android phones hacked by Italian spyware

The hacking tools of an Italian company were used to break into the smartphone Apple e Android in Italia e Kazakhistan. So says a report recently released by Google. Apparently RCS Laba company based in Milan, has developed tools for spy on private messages and contacts of the targeted devices. A technology that has definitely ended up in the wrong hands.

Apple and Android smartphones have been targeted by hackers

Bad news for owners of Apple and Android smartphones, which have been subject of hacker attacks through the tools of the company RCS Lab. An episode that has alerted the European and American regulatory authorities, who are evaluating potential new rules on the sale and import of spyware. “These vendors are enabling the proliferation of dangerous hacking tools and arming governments that would not be able to develop these capabilities internally,” says Google, which unearthed the hacker attacks.

According to reports from the company, the spyware has hit smartphones in Italy and Kazakhstan, even if the governments of the two countries have not issued any statements in this regard. Apple, on the other hand, said it had revoked all accounts and certificates associated with the hacking campaign. And RCS Lab said its products are comply with European standards, and indeed they are often of aid to the police. Finally, Google warned users of the spyware attack, known as Hermit. Beyond the solution, it is clear that there is a rather troubling problem. The global industry that produces spyware for governments is growing, with more and more companies developing eavesdropping tools for law enforcement.

Some time ago, for example, Israeli surveillance firm NSO’s Pegasus spyware was used by multiple governments to spy on journalists, activists and dissidents. Proof that the spread of spyware can indeed be very dangerous. And the use of Hermit is clear proof of this. The hackers reportedly used spyware in one predominantly Kurdish region of Syria. And it seems to have spread by tricking people to click on links in messages sent to targets. “Hermit tricks users into serving legitimate web pages of brands that he impersonates while initiating malicious activities in the background,” the Lookout researchers said. In short, a big problem for global security.