A Russian telecom company that develops technology to allow phone and internet companies to conduct web surveillance and censorship was hacked, had its website defaced, and had data stolen from its servers, TechCrunch has learned.
Founded in Russia, Protei makes telecommunications systems for phone and internet providers across dozens of countries, including Bahrain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Pakistan and much of central Africa. The company, now headquartered in Jordan, sells video conferencing technology and internet connectivity solutions.
Read more…
Source: TechCrunch News
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- Amazon is still hosting spyware victims’ data weeks after breach alert
March 13, 2025
Amazon will not say if it plans to take action against three phone surveillance apps that are storing troves of individuals’ private phone data on Amazon’s cloud servers, despite TechCrunch notifying the tech giant weeks earlier that it was hosting the stolen phone data. Amazon told TechCrunch it was “following process” after our February notice, ...
- Italian government denies Paragon has cut spyware contract
February 12, 2025
Italy denied on Wednesday that Israeli spyware maker Paragon had cut ties with Rome following allegations that the Italian government had illegally used its technology to hack the phones of critics instead of criminals. “Paragon has never suspended the service and has not terminated its contract,” the cabinet undersecretary for intelligence matters, Alfredo Mantovano, told reporters. ...
- Spyware maker Paragon confirms US government is a customer
February 4, 2025
Israeli spyware maker Paragon Solutions confirmed to TechCrunch that it sells its products to the U.S. government and other unspecified allied countries. Paragon’s executive chairman John Fleming said in a statement to TechCrunch on Tuesday that “Paragon licenses its technology to a select group of global democracies — principally, the United States and its allies.” Fleming ...
- Meta’s WhatsApp says spyware company Paragon targeted users in two dozen countries
January 31, 2025
An official with Meta Platforms’ (META.O), opens new tab popular WhatsApp chat service said Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions had targeted scores of its users, including journalists and members of civil society. The official said on Friday that WhatsApp had sent Paragon a cease-and-desist letter following the hack. In a statement, WhatsApp said the company “will ...
- WhatsApp scores historic victory against NSO Group in long-running spyware hacking case
December 23, 2024
A U.S. judge has ruled that Israeli spyware maker NSO Group breached hacking laws by using WhatsApp to infect devices with its Pegasus spyware. In a historic ruling on Friday, a Northern California federal judge held NSO Group liable for targeting the devices of 1,400 WhatsApp users, violating state and federal hacking laws as well as ...
- Israeli spyware startup Paragon acquired by U.S.-based private equity fund for up to $900M
December 16, 2024
Israeli offensive cyber company Paragon will be acquired by the U.S.-based private equity fund AE Industrial Partners for an initial payment of $500 million, with an additional $400 million contingent on meeting business milestones. Despite the acquisition, Paragon will remain an Israeli company, adhering to regulatory guidelines set by Israel’s Defense Ministry and the U.S. ...