The US is imposing sanctions on the top spyware maker over claims it targeted thousands of Americans
The US government has sanctioned Intellexa Consortium, the company that developed and sold the infamous Predator spyware.
The group consists of Intellexa SA (Greece), Intellexa Limited (Ireland), Cytrox AD (North Macedonia), Cytrox Holdings ZRT (Hungary) and Thalestris Limited (Ireland).
Among those sanctioned are Tal Jonathan Dilian, the group’s founder, and Sara Aleksandra Fayssal Hamou, a corporate offshoring specialist who provides management services.
Aimed at Americans
Commercial malware is typically sold to government agencies around the world, which use it to target political opponents, journalists, human rights activists and dissidents, the Treasury Department said.
In late May 2023, researchers analyzed a sample of the malware and found that it can record audio from phone calls and VoIP apps and steal data from chat apps like WhatsApp or Telegram. Although not confirmed, researchers believe the malware also enables geolocation tracking, access to camera apps, and tricks the user into thinking the device is turned off (for easier use during the ‘off’ time).
The researchers also said that the list of features is inconclusive and that Predator could be capable of much more. The Treasury Department sanctioned the group mainly because, as the press release states, Predator was used to target US government officials, journalists and activists.
The sanctions involve blocking all assets of both designated individuals and companies and reporting them to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). In addition, U.S. citizens and businesses are prohibited from transacting or doing business with blacklisted organizations.
The US government has imposed sanctions on multiple companies and individuals involved in developing commercial spyware, most notably NSO Group, an Israeli startup that was blacklisted in late 2021 for building Pegasus.