Researchers have discovered a new kind of government spyware for hire

The Verge ----------- There’s a string of spyware campaigns operating out of a government building in Lebanon, according to new research from Lookout Security and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Dubbed “Dark Caracal,” the new group is linked to attacks on thousands of victims in more than 21 different countries, a range of targets so broad that researchers believe the campaign may represent a new kind of spyware for hire. Dark Caracal’s basic tactics are similar to previous government-linked spyware campaigns, targeting individuals through spear phishing or watering hole attacks, then using malware implants to quietly siphon data from their phones. That data includes passwords, phone records and chats, enough to build a comprehensive picture of where a person has been and who they’ve communicated with. In most cases, the malware itself isn’t particularly sophisticated — employing known vulnerabilities and targeting primarily Android phones — but the effect is still potentially devastating for anyone compromised. To learn more click on the picture below to read the article.