Data breach reveals Catwatchful ‘stalkerware’ is spying on thousands of phones


A security vulnerability in a stealthy Android spyware operation called Catwatchful has exposed thousands of its customers, including its administrator.

The bug, which was discovered by security researcher Eric Daigle, spilled the spyware app’s full database of email addresses and plaintext passwords that Catwatchful customers use to access the data stolen from the phones of their victims. Catwatchful is spyware masquerading as a child monitoring app that claims to be “invisible and cannot be detected,” all the while uploading the victim’s phone’s private contents to a dashboard viewable by the person who planted the app. The stolen data includes the victims’ photos, messages, and real-time location data.

Read more…
Source: TechCrunch News


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Russia toughens penalties for data leaks

    November 30, 2024

    Russian President Vladimir Putin signed laws that toughen penalties for illegal gathering and distribution of personal data. Administrative liability New fines are introduced. In particular, they total up to 15 mln rubles ($141,000) for illegal transfer of personal information and health details and up to 20 mln rubles ($188,000) for illegal transfer of biometric data. The ...

  • Another background check company suffered data breach with over 600,000 people details exposed

    November 29, 2024

    Another background check company suffered a data breach; this time, more than 600,000 people were affected. It’s a minor breach compared with the 2.9 billion people hit by the National Public Data hack, but it’s still scary. The company in question, SL Data Services, was discovered online. It was publicly exposed and not password-protected or encrypted. ...

  • Westminster honeytrap victims named in Met Police email blunder

    November 29, 2024

    The Metropolitan Police has apologised to victims of the Westminster “honeytrap” scandal after it accidentally sent an email which named all of them. The force said it was referring itself to data watchdog the Information Commissioner over the breach. The Met is investigating flirtatious messages being sent by someone calling themselves “Charlie” or “Abi” to as ...

  • Exxon lobbyist investigated over hack-and-leak of environmentalist emails

    November 27, 2024

    The FBI has been investigating a longtime Exxon Mobil consultant over the contractor’s alleged role in a hack-and-leak operation that targeted hundreds of the oil company’s biggest critics, according to three people familiar with the matter. The operation involved mercenary hackers who successfully breached the email accounts of environmental activists and others, the sources told Reuters. ...

  • Hackers who inflitrated South African financial system reveal data for a large number people

    November 24, 2024

    A hacking group that claims it fraudulently collected Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants and infiltrated South Africa’s financial system through credit bureaus has released data appearing to belong to Absa and Standard Bank customers. N4aughtySecGroup contacted the media earlier this month with a warning that it had breached several credit bureaus and used its access ...

  • UK: Prison layouts reportedly leaked on dark web

    November 23, 2024

    The Ministry of Justice has said it is aware of a data breach affecting prisons in England and Wales. Confidential prison layouts had been leaked onto the dark web in the past two weeks, according to The Times. A former prison governor told the paper organised crime groups could potentially use the information to smuggle drugs ...