Iran 'Hides Spyware in Wallpaper, Restaurant and Games Apps' (bbc.com) 24
Iran is running two surveillance operations in cyber-space, targeting more than 1,000 dissidents, according to a leading cyber-security company. From a report: The efforts were directed against individuals in Iran and 12 other countries, including the UK and US, Check Point said. It said the two groups involved were using new techniques to install spyware on targets' PCs and mobile devices. And this was then being used to steal call recordings and media files.
One of the groups, known as Domestic Kitten or APT-50, is accused of tricking people into downloading malicious software on to mobile phones by a variety of means including: repackaging an existing version of an authentic video game found on the Google Play store, mimicking an app for a restaurant in Tehran, offering a fake mobile-security app, providing a compromised app that publishes articles from a local news agency, supplying an infected wallpaper app containing pro-Islamic State imagery, masquerading as an Android application store to download further software.
The American-Israeli company's researchers documented 1,200 victims being targeted by the campaign, living in seven countries. There had been more than 600 successful infections, it said.
One of the groups, known as Domestic Kitten or APT-50, is accused of tricking people into downloading malicious software on to mobile phones by a variety of means including: repackaging an existing version of an authentic video game found on the Google Play store, mimicking an app for a restaurant in Tehran, offering a fake mobile-security app, providing a compromised app that publishes articles from a local news agency, supplying an infected wallpaper app containing pro-Islamic State imagery, masquerading as an Android application store to download further software.
The American-Israeli company's researchers documented 1,200 victims being targeted by the campaign, living in seven countries. There had been more than 600 successful infections, it said.
So does every other state actor (Score:5, Insightful)
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In truth it doesn't make them any less of a threat. The Nuclear Deal during the Obama Administration, helped ease tension by giving Iran a path for peace, in terms of a narrow view of nuclear armament.
Lets say a 2 year old is running around with a knife, that he somehow found and picked up. As the adult in the room have a few options.
1. Try to forcefully take the knife from the child, which would mean chasing the child down, and catching them and getting rid of the knife. This means the child may run aw
Iran is no threat (Score:3)
Iran is trying to modernize. They were doing that in the 50s before we butted in and overthrew their democratically elected government. If we leave them be they'll chill out, their religious hardliners will moderate just like ours did and they'll be another market we can export into like Europe.
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Something too many people re unaware of (mostly because the corporate press refuses to publicize it) is that Iran isn't working on nuclear weapons and never has. Their leading clerics have published fatwas against the creation and use of all types of WMD, and specifically against nuclear weapons. Their equipment is not capable of refining uranium to the point where it could be used in a weapon, nor is it upgradeable to be able to. They have cooperated fully with international inspectors, something which
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The main argument, wasn't that they had nuclear weapons, but they were rapidly ramping up their ability to make them if they wanted too. That was the real threat.
The fact that they were cooperating with inspectors made negotiation possible.
That said, just because Iran does some things the right way, it doesn't mean that they are not a threat to America or it allies.
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Oh, by all the gods, Iran is a threat to the Untied States? One what planet? Are they going to invade, or what? Maybe crush us under their enormous manufacturing capability? Destroy our financial system with their powerful banking resources? Blockade our ports with their navy? I'm really curious what sort of "threat to America" you think they pose? We murdered the leader of their military while he was on a diplomatic mission to one of our **allies** and they retaliated by . . . what did they do again
It would be hilarious if... (Score:1)
The software they were using was sold to them by an Israeli company.
Because let's face it, they are the world leaders in that business. ^^
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The software they were using was sold to them by an Israeli company.
Because let's face it, they are the world leaders in that business. ^^
It'd be even more hilarious if the ultimate backer of the thing was https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org] (WH Group).
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The US just hides its spyware in the telecom conglomerates. It's much more efficient to just snoop all the traffic in the world and not have to figure out how to get your spyware installed on the target's systems.
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It would be a page right out of their playbook. Sell the regime spyware. Wait until it gets installed. Then point a finger and say, "Oh noes! Spyware on your PCs." Just what they need to destabilize the regime a bit further.
Iran's Supreme Leader receives most of his support from the less educated lower classes. And this espionage will hit the urban middle and upper classes harder. So class warfare ensues. Israel, Saudi Arabia, the USA and Daesh just sit back and laugh.
Wallpaper? that is hard to believe! (Score:3)
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A more advanced version of this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
Anyone surprised? (Score:1)
Did you know that dictators spy on Captain Obvious?
Every country tracks protesters (Score:3)
In the case of the USA, the TSA no-fly list is abused to harass those that piss off the gov.
https://progressive.org/op-eds/protesters-detained-milwaukee-fly-list/ [progressive.org]
Twenty of the 37 members of the Peace Action Milwaukee group--including a priest and a nun--were pulled aside and questioned by Milwaukee County sheriff's deputies.
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The federal no fly list is more security theater. It is a list of names and nothing more. Infants were prevented from flying because they had the misfortune of sharing a name. Good luck explaining that concept to the TSA flunkees.
Well ... (Score:3)
"Iran 'Hides Spyware in Wallpaper, "
Are Persian rugs still safe to buy? :-)