ALBAWABA - Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced on Tuesday that it had uncovered a spying campaign, allegedly carried out by foreign intelligence agencies, targeting high-ranking Russian officials by hacking their deviecs.
In a statement, the FSB said it had "detected and documented a large-scale operation by foreign intelligence services to implant and deploy malware on the mobile communication devices of high-ranking Russian officials, with the aim of obtaining sensitive information."
The statement further mentioned that the hacking apps were designed to "extract data stored on the devices, eavesdrop on ongoing conversations, and conduct covert audio and video surveillance of the environment surrounding the electronic devices."
Hacking concept. (Shutterstock)
According to an official in the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), individuals whose sensitive information is gathered by foreign intelligence agencies through the hacking of their smartphones are subsequently added to Western sanctions lists, making them vulnerable to pressure.
Russian security services mentioned that using the technical capabilities of major global IT companies, foreign intelligence agents carried out covert and unauthorized extraction of various types of information from the devices of cyberattack targets.
