Google reports that Android and iOS users in Italy and Kazakhstan were spied on

Google found that RCS Lab had collaborated with the defunct Italian spy firm, Hacking Team

Google has reported that an Italian company‘s hacking tools were used to spy on Apple Inc. and Android smartphones in Italy and Kazakhstan. According to the report, Milan-based RCS Lab, whose website claims European law enforcement agencies as clients, developed tools to spy on contacts and private messages of targeted devices. A spokesperson from Apple said that the company had revoked all known accounts and certificates associated with this hacking campaign. Google has also confirmed that it has taken steps to alert its users about the spyware and protect users of its Android operating system.

Companies that make spyware for governments are increasing, and more and more companies are developing interception tools for law enforcement agencies. The spyware industry came under a global spotlight when Pegasus, the Israeli Surveillance spyware, was found to have been used by multiple governments to spy on journalists, activists, and dissidents. The RCS Lab‘s tool is not as stealthy as the Pegasus, but it can still read messages and view passwords. Google researchers found that RCS Lab had previously collaborated with the controversial, defunct Italian spy firm, Hacking Team, which had similarly created surveillance software for foreign governments to tap into phones and computers.