Khaberni - UK cybersecurity agencies have warned of the rapid spread of commercial spyware, which is now owned by more than 100 countries worldwide, in a development that raises widespread concerns about data security and privacy.
According to "Politico," the national cybersecurity agencies in the UK are set to unveil a new report indicating that access to electronic spying tools has become much easier than before, increasing the likelihood of targeting individuals, companies, and critical infrastructure in the UK and abroad.
According to the report, the number of countries possessing these technologies has risen from about 80 in 2023 to around 100 currently, reflecting rapid expansion in the market for digital surveillance tools.
These software programs, developed by private companies like "NSO Group," known for the “Pegasus” system, and "Paragon Solutions," developers of the “Graphite” system, rely on exploiting security vulnerabilities in phones and computers to infiltrate devices and steal sensitive data.
Despite some governments' assertions that they use these tools only for combating terrorism and organized crime, human rights reports and independent investigations point to their use in targeting journalists, political dissenters, and public figures.
The British security agencies noted that the scope of targeting has expanded in recent years to also include bankers and wealthy businessmen, a shift that raises increasing concerns about the limits of these technologies use.
The head of the National Cyber Security Centre in Britain, Richard Horn, said at the CYBERUK conference in Glasgow that British companies are not sufficiently aware of the current threat landscape, confirming that most major cyber-attacks targeting the UK come from hostile countries rather than traditional criminals.
The reports added that hacking attempts also involve entities linked to China, aiming to collect sensitive data and spy on prominent figures, in addition to preparing for cyber operations that could disrupt infrastructure in the event of escalating geopolitical tensions.
The report also warned of the risks of hacking tools leaking to non-governmental entities after a hacking toolset known as DarkSword was leaked, which had the capability to exploit vulnerabilities in “Apple” devices like the iPhone and iPad.
Cybersecurity experts see this leak as highlighting the danger of advanced spying tools spreading out of control, potentially putting millions of users worldwide at risk, even without being direct targets.
