Here’s some interesting reading for you. A Russian programmer has made the claim that FSB agents planted spyware on his Android phone:
A programmer said the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) installed spyware on his Android phone after he was detained in Moscow earlier this year. Security researchers confirmed that his phone had spyware installed, likely when the authorities had physical access to his phone and had forced him to give up his passcode.
For the programmer Kirill Parubets, it was a terrifying and traumatic ordeal. But thanks to his computer expertise and vigilance, his story offers a rare first-hand account of Russian authorities deploying spyware on one of its citizens — not by using a technically advanced remote hacking attack, but with a more crude approach.
I encourage you to read the whole story as it really will open your eyes. Ken Westin, Sr. Solutions Engineer, LimaCharlie has an opinion on this incident:
“If a device is confiscated by an authoritarian regime, there is a very good chance it has been compromised. When they have physical access to the device it is much easier to compromise, as you are not relying on remote exploitation of the device. There are many more methods to compromise a device when it is connected to a cable. Also, not having to crack the password, as they can get it by intimidating and even beating the target into providing it, makes the process even easier. Many companies have security polices to bring “burner” devices to certain countries for this reason. If a device is confiscated temporarily or left in a hotel room, the likelihood of it being compromised due to spies having physical access increases substantially.”
I think that this story serves as a cautionary tale as to what can happen when you lose control of your devices. Which means that you should do the best that you can to ensure that you’re not placed in this sort of situation.
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This entry was posted on December 5, 2024 at 10:41 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Hacked, Russia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Alleged FSB Spyware Found on Russian Programmer’s Android Phone
Here’s some interesting reading for you. A Russian programmer has made the claim that FSB agents planted spyware on his Android phone:
A programmer said the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) installed spyware on his Android phone after he was detained in Moscow earlier this year. Security researchers confirmed that his phone had spyware installed, likely when the authorities had physical access to his phone and had forced him to give up his passcode.
For the programmer Kirill Parubets, it was a terrifying and traumatic ordeal. But thanks to his computer expertise and vigilance, his story offers a rare first-hand account of Russian authorities deploying spyware on one of its citizens — not by using a technically advanced remote hacking attack, but with a more crude approach.
I encourage you to read the whole story as it really will open your eyes. Ken Westin, Sr. Solutions Engineer, LimaCharlie has an opinion on this incident:
“If a device is confiscated by an authoritarian regime, there is a very good chance it has been compromised. When they have physical access to the device it is much easier to compromise, as you are not relying on remote exploitation of the device. There are many more methods to compromise a device when it is connected to a cable. Also, not having to crack the password, as they can get it by intimidating and even beating the target into providing it, makes the process even easier. Many companies have security polices to bring “burner” devices to certain countries for this reason. If a device is confiscated temporarily or left in a hotel room, the likelihood of it being compromised due to spies having physical access increases substantially.”
I think that this story serves as a cautionary tale as to what can happen when you lose control of your devices. Which means that you should do the best that you can to ensure that you’re not placed in this sort of situation.
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This entry was posted on December 5, 2024 at 10:41 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Hacked, Russia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.