Otto
Advanced
- Joined
- 22.09.20
- Messages
- 107
- Reaction score
- 377
- Points
- 63
The history of eSurv is a vivid example of how the business of selling spyware can go "on a curve".
In 2019, SecurityLab reported on the Italian spyware manufacturer eSurv, which infected at least 1 thousand Google Play users with malicious applications. Although the company sold its products to law enforcement agencies, of the 1,000 users whose devices were infected, many were not involved in any criminal activity.
In April 2019, a criminal case was opened against eSurv employees for illegal surveillance of Italian citizens. As a result, on March 4 of this year, the court of the city of Catanzaro, where eSurv was registered, declared the company bankrupt.
The story of eSurv is a prime example of how the business of selling spyware to law enforcement agencies can go "on a curve". The company began its journey with the sale of software for home and office video surveillance systems. However, after the software giant Hacking Team ceased to exist and a place in the spyware market was freed up, eSurv decided to fill the gap and began to release tools that allow the police to monitor users ' smartphones.
The company has developed Android apps that look like harmless apps to receive advertising and marketing offers from local Italian telecom operators, and placed them on the Google Play Store. In fact, the apps stole personal and other sensitive data from users ' phones.
Although eSurv will soon cease to exist, the criminal investigation against its former managers is still ongoing.
In 2019, SecurityLab reported on the Italian spyware manufacturer eSurv, which infected at least 1 thousand Google Play users with malicious applications. Although the company sold its products to law enforcement agencies, of the 1,000 users whose devices were infected, many were not involved in any criminal activity.
In April 2019, a criminal case was opened against eSurv employees for illegal surveillance of Italian citizens. As a result, on March 4 of this year, the court of the city of Catanzaro, where eSurv was registered, declared the company bankrupt.
The story of eSurv is a prime example of how the business of selling spyware to law enforcement agencies can go "on a curve". The company began its journey with the sale of software for home and office video surveillance systems. However, after the software giant Hacking Team ceased to exist and a place in the spyware market was freed up, eSurv decided to fill the gap and began to release tools that allow the police to monitor users ' smartphones.
The company has developed Android apps that look like harmless apps to receive advertising and marketing offers from local Italian telecom operators, and placed them on the Google Play Store. In fact, the apps stole personal and other sensitive data from users ' phones.
Although eSurv will soon cease to exist, the criminal investigation against its former managers is still ongoing.