A Russian programmer, Kirill Parubets, accused of contributing financially to Ukraine, found his Android device compromised with spyware after being detained by the Federal Security Service (FSB). This revelation comes from a joint investigation involving the First Department and the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.

After his release in May 2024, Parubets noticed abnormal behavior on his phone, which had been taken by authorities during his 15-day detention. The FSB not only extracted information through physical coercion but also attempted to recruit him as an informant under threat of life imprisonment. Once his device was returned, he observed unusual notifications that signaled tampering.

Subsequent analysis of his smartphone uncovered a trojanized version of a legitimate call recording app. This malicious version was specifically crafted to request invasive permissions, allowing it to track the device’s location, record calls, intercept encrypted messages, and even log keystrokes. The app’s malicious functions were concealed and activated in a hidden second stage after installation.

The spyware exhibited similarities to an existing Android surveillance tool known as Monokle, suggesting that it could either be an updated variant or derived from existing code. Moreover, traces in the spyware’s code hinted at a potential iOS version.

Citizen Lab highlighted the dangers associated with losing custody of a device to adversarial security services like the FSB, stressing the long-term risks that may extend beyond detainment. This incident coincides with reports from iVerify that identified new infections of the notorious Pegasus spyware across various devices owned by journalists and government officials, further underscoring the pervasive threats in mobile cybersecurity.

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