More and more governments are interested in being able to look into the mobile phones of suspicious citizens – a multi-million dollar business for the manufacturers of so-called ‘state Trojans’. But politicians’ desire for surveillance has an unpleasant side effect, the implications of which are not always realised by supporters and buyers of state spyware.
If you want to look into your citizens’ mobile phones, you need hacking skills – and very good ones; after all, smartphone messengers nowadays communicate in encrypted form and mobile operating systems such as Android or iOS are constantly hardened with security updates. While major powers such as the US, China and Russia undoubtedly have such skills, the situation is even worse for smaller states – which is why they often rely on private sector suppliers who deliver their spyware “off the shelf” and hoard secret security holes. Apparently, it cannot be ruled out that the cyber weapons end up in the wrong hands – such as those of Putin’s hackers.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
