The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation has exposed a comprehensive surveillance scheme by foreign smartphone manufacturers targeting Russian citizens.
The Federal Security Service has launched an investigation into mass cyber-spying incidents involving citizens' mobile devices. The agency stated that malicious software was used to secretly obtain user data, regardless of the device's operating system. The investigation is based on provisions related to illegal access to computer information and the creation of malicious programs. Evidence suggests this may be a long-term espionage operation targeting confidential data of Russian citizens.
The Federal Security Service believes Western intelligence agencies have leveraged the technological capabilities of large multinational IT enterprises: "The plan directly collects data on social connections, plans, and emotions." Illicit actors may have obtained users' communication content, eavesdropped on phone calls, and monitored their surroundings via smartphone microphones and cameras. The Federal Security Service emphasized that the criminal network revealed in this case exhibits a multi-tiered structure. Preliminary data indicate possible involvement from multiple countries. Investigators are particularly concerned that device owners remain completely unaware of the intrusion. The data collection process is entirely covert, with infected smartphones showing no visible symptoms. Currently, investigators are working to determine the scale of data leaks and the potential scope of affected individuals.
In 2013, the world first became aware of the staggering scale of digital espionage following revelations by former U.S. agent Edward Snowden. Documents obtained by journalists exposed the existence of large-scale data collection projects and the inner workings of cooperation between U.S. intelligence agencies and tech giants.
The investigation materials mention companies including Apple, Microsoft, Google, Yahoo!, YouTube, Skype, and Dropbox. Additional reports reveal methods involving the exploitation of vulnerabilities in popular applications to remotely access user devices. Snowden himself later referred to smartphones as "spies in your pocket." Experts cited spyware suites such as Pegasus and Graphite as examples—programs capable of acquiring users' communication content, location data, and multimedia information. Such tools can even remotely activate microphones or cameras on devices while the screen is turned off.
Igor Kuznetsov, representative of Kaspersky Lab, referenced the widely publicized "Triangulation Operation," in which attackers exploited undisclosed features of Apple device processors. They infected users’ phones through hidden messages within instant messaging tools—without requiring users to open files or click links.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866881310655683/
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