Meta Corporation (formerly Facebook) revealed that it identified seven companies in four countries that hacked social media accounts and followed users. According to Meta, more than 50 thousand users from more than 100 countries have become victims of unauthorized access to accounts. The company found that the companies worked in the best interests of national authorities and individuals.

Meta announced that it had ended its relationship with these organizations, deleted approximately 1,500 accounts, and blocked URLs from which surveillance malware was distributed.

The list of companies that provided spyware solutions included Israeli Cobwebs Technologies, Black Cube, Cognyte and Bluehawk CI, India's BellTrox, North Macedonian Cytrox and one unnamed Chinese company. Their customers were representatives from 20 countries, including Oman, Colombia, UAE, Mexico, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Egypt, Poland, Bangladesh, Greece, Cote d'Ivoire and Egypt.

Companies are pushing for spyware to be installed on users' devices by building trust through fake Facebook and Instagram accounts. This software turns gadgets into spying technology, as it allows you to access calls, contacts, photos, videos and location.

The Facebook team will send out warning messages to users to avoid falling victim to malware. The company passed information on to law enforcement and security professionals.

Last month, Meta urged US police to stop creating fake Facebook spy accounts. Law enforcement uses Voyager Labs to monitor potential suspicions and solve crimes. According to Meta, the actions of the police undermine user confidence in the platform.

In 2019, Facebook sued the Israeli company NSO Group for distributing Pegasus malware using the WhatsApp messenger. In particular, they talked about a hacker attack against 1,400 mobile devices in order to install spyware. The victims of the NSO were 100 human rights defenders, journalists and other activists. This week the Israeli company announced its intention to sell the Pegasus division. This software has repeatedly found itself in the center of scandals. For example, in November, the Hungarian authorities admitted that the country's law enforcement agencies were using Pegasus. The minutes of the parliamentary meeting, at which it became known, were classified until 2050.

bbabo.Net