Italy's low-cost spyware market: Small surveillance firms selling cheap trojans to prosecutors
By
(guest author)
A baker's-dozen of insight crammed into one ring.
Summary
An investigation by IrpiMedia reveals a thriving low-cost spyware economy in Italy, where dozens of small surveillance companies develop "trojans" for interception. Unlike high-profile firms like NSO Group, these smaller Italian vendors sell spyware to prosecutors for as little as a few dozen euros per day of interception. The market is highly competitive, with zero-day exploit chains being used. EDRi member Osservatorio Nessuno analyzed two specific products, Spyrtacus and Morpheus, shedding light on this parallel, largely unnoticed surveillance industry.
Key quotes
· 3 pulledWhile company names like NSO Group or Paragon Solutions have become widely known following extensive media coverage and political scandals, a parallel spyware market has been developing almost unnoticed in their shadow.
Italy is home to dozens of small surveillance companies developing so-called 'trojans' for interception.
An IrpiMedia investigation found that prosecutors in Italy pay as little as a few dozen euros per day of interception, creating a competitive market where zero-day exploit chains are used.
You might also wanna read
US-backed Israeli company's spyware used to target European journalists
US becomes top investor in global commercial spyware market
The article reports that the US has become the largest investor in commercial spyware, based on findings from the Atlantic Council. It highl
arstechnica.com·8mo ago