[Original] (https://bureau.kz/novosti/novyj-kazahstan-prodolzhaet-sledit/)
Despite the statements of the creation of “New Kazakhstan”, the government of the country continues to spend multimillions for surveillance of its citizens.Now the Italian spy on the aid was called to the rescue.
Last year, after the publication of the Center for the Study of Corruption and Organized Crime (OCCRP), a scandal erupted: the authorities of Kazakhstan using the Software of the Israeli company NSO Group PEGASUS monitored the phones of journalists, activists, politicians.This year, the country’s authorities decided to use the services of the Italian company RCS Lab S.P.A.and Tykelab SRL, which developed spy software HERMIT.
This program uses the vulnerabilities of Android operating systems and allows you to record audio on a hacked device, make and redirect phone calls, as well as collect data, such as call magazines, contacts, photographs, location of the device and SMS messages.
According to Lookout Inc., this spy software was deployed by the Government of Kazakhstan to monitor active citizens.
_- What is also interesting is that we were able to confirm that Kazakhstan is a probable current client RCS Lab.It is not often possible to determine the clientele of the spy software supplier, _ - said Justin Albrecht, researcher Threat Intelligence in Lookout.
Currently, specialists managed to analyze only 16 of the 25 famous spy modules.According to them, Hermit is distributed through SMS messages, supposedly emanating from the well-known victim of the source.Also, analyzed samples of harmful programs imposed themselves as application of telecommunication companies or smartphone manufacturers.Hermit deceives users, opening the official web pages of the brands that he gives up for himself, launching harmful actions in the background.
You can get more detailed information on the official Lookout page in English: https://www.lookout.com/blog/hermit-spyware-discovery
Specialists engaged in information security support recommend to civil activists and human rights activists from Kazakhstan to install on the phones with Android OS software from Lookout under the name “Lookout Mobile Security” (in the Kazakhstan segment “Antivirus | Lookout”).
The basic version of the program is distributed for free and is able to identify a spy application on a mobile device.
! [] (Images/HERMIT-1024X640-1.JPG)
It is also recommended on an ongoing basis to install all updates of the operating system.