US Department of Commerce (archive)
Wednesday, July 19, 2023 / 00:52
The United States on Tuesday blacklisted four companies suspected of using its spyware to infiltrate the phones of adversaries.
The Ministry of Commerce announced the inclusion of the “Intelexa” units in Greece and Ireland, as well as the “Cytrox” units in Hungary and North Macedonia, in its blacklist of entities, which prevents Americans from dealing with them.
The Ministry of Commerce said that “Intelexa” and “Cytrox” worked to penetrate electronic information systems, “which threatened the privacy and security of individuals and organizations around the world.”
Created by the ancients, Pegasus, a new Israeli spy program
https://t.co/VkMG9lDh8S pic.twitter.com/ilu572F7Jy— 24.ae (@20fourMedia) April 12, 2023
The measure came after accusing the two companies that sell surveillance devices of providing spyware that was found on the phones of opponents of governments.
According to cybersecurity firm Talos, Intelexa and Citrox are behind the spyware called Predator.
In Greece, the data protection authority in January fined Intelexa €50,000 for refusing to cooperate with an investigation into the use of Predator software to spy on Greek opposition leaders, journalists, military commanders and others.
According to a 2021 Citizen Lab report, Citrox and Predator are part of the Intelexa Alliance.
Intelexa was founded by a former officer in Israeli military intelligence, Tal Dilian, whose name was previously associated with the “NSO” group that developed the “Pegasus” spyware.
According to Forbes, Dillian acquired Citrox in 2019.
According to marketing materials, Intelexa offers its customers the ability to hack iOS and Android operating software.
In a report published last month, Haaretz newspaper indicated that the state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries was among the first investors in Citrox, but sold its shares in early 2019 to Intelexa.
#wikileaksUS intelligence planted spyware on iPhones
https://t.co/ijho6lCEeb pic.twitter.com/Wdf375pE8l— 24.ae (@20fourMedia) March 24, 2017
A statement by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the blacklisting of the four companies is part of a broader effort by the US administration to “address the risks of commercial spyware”.
He warned that these spyware pose increasing risks to security and counterterrorism in the United States, “including the security and safety of government employees and their families.”
The minister stressed that this spyware was also used to repress and violate human rights, “including the intimidation of political opponents and the suppression of dissent.”
