FinFisher is the best-recognized brand in the field of "ethical malware," with market leadership established for more than a decade. Originally known as Gamma International, a subsidiary of Gamma Group based in Andover, UK, the company was ostensibly spun off in 2013 as an independent entity based in Munich and renamed FinFisher. The facts of FinFisher's corporate … [Read more...]
Dated Hacking Team Malware Still Has Legs – With Criminal Hackers
Just when we thought that the woes of The Hacking Team might be letting up, word comes that an older version of the Italian company’s malware has been used in attacks against Western targets including the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The news surfaced in a new white paper issued by F-Secure, an IT security vendor based in Finland. A group dubbed “Callisto” has been … [Read more...]
FinFisher FinSpy – Malware’s Hardest Working Rootkit Infection
In reviews of how FinFisher FinSpy, The Hacking Teams’s RCS and similar “ethical malware” programs work, the discussion generally begins with the statement, “They plant malware on a device to take control” and ends with a list of all the capabilities that derive therefrom. All fine and well, but what are the steps leading up to the malware plant that make it successful? And how … [Read more...]
Show Con Artist Wolf Intelligence the “Back Door”
In an earlier post we observed how demand for intrusive surveillance solutions in second and third world countries has fueled the emergence of new competitors such as Wolf Intelligence in a bid to compete with longstanding players in the marketplace. At least in part, these next generation malware players are getting an assist from Wassenaar Arrangement-inspired clampdowns such … [Read more...]
How Serious is Italy’s Crackdown on The Hacking Team? Deadly Serious.
In a recent New York Times article, The Hacking Team claims Italian regulators lifted the export ban on the company’s malware. Don't tell tales. On March 31, 2016, Italy’s Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) - under orders from the Directorate General for International Trade Policy - banned The Hacking Team from exporting its RCS malware to any country outside the … [Read more...]