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Hack-for-hire spyware campaign targets journalists in Middle East ...
An apparent hack-for-hire campaign from a group with suspected Indian government connections targeted Middle Eastern and North African journalists and activists using spyware, three collaborating organizations said in reports published Wednesday. The attacks shared infrastructure that pointed to the advanced persistent threat group known as Bitter, which most frequently targets government, military, diplomatic and critical infrastructure sectors across South Asia, according to conclusions from researchers at Access Now, Lookout and SMEX. Each group took on a different piece of the puzzle: Access Now got calls on its helpline that led it to examine a spearphishing campaign in 2023 and 2024. It contacted Lookout for technical support about the malware it encountered. Lookout attributed the malware to Bitter, concluding it was a likely hack-for-hire campaign, using the Android ProSpy spyware. SMEX dived into a spearphishing campaign targeting a prominent Lebanese journalist last year, collaborating with Access Now to discover shared infrastructure between the campaigns. One of the victims, independent Egyptian journalist Mostafa Al-A’sar, said he contacted Access Now after receiving a suspicious link from someone he’d been talking to about a job position. He was skeptical because his phone had been targeted before, when he was arrested in Egypt in 2018. The lesson for journalists and civil society groups is that cybersecurity “is not a luxury,” he said. “I feel like I’m threatened,” Al-A’sar said, and even though he was living in exile, he feels like “they are still following me. I also felt worried about my family, about my friends, about my sources.” The combined research found a wider campaign than just the original victims. “Our joint findings expose an espionage campaign that has been operational since at least 2022 until present day primarily targeting civil society members and potentially government officials in the Middle East,” Lookout wrote. “The operation features a combination of targeted spearphishing delivered through fake social media accounts and messaging applications leveraging persistent social engineering efforts, which may result in the delivery of Android spyware depending on the target’s device.” The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the campaign. “Spying on journalists is often the first step in a broader pattern of intimidation, threats, and attacks,” said the group’s regional director, Sara Qudah. “These actions ...
How to Hire a Hacker: Complete Guide for 2025 | SpyWizards
STOP: 99% of “hire a hacker” services are scams. Before you risk losing money or facing prison time, read this guide. When people search “hire a hacker” they’re often desperate—and scammers know it. This guide shows you how to find legitimate ethical hackers, what services actually cost in 2026, and why most “dark web hackers” will just steal your money. Last Updated: April 2026 | Reading Time: 25 minutes Table of Contents Why People Search “Hire a Hacker” (Search Intent Breakdown)Quick Answer: What Does “Hire a Hacker” Actually Mean?Table of ContentsTypes of Hacker Services You Can Legally Hire1. Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing2. Account Recovery Services3. Digital Forensics & Mobile Investigation4. Security Consulting & vCISO ServicesHow Much Does It Cost to Hire a Hacker?Pricing by Service Type (2026)Ethical Hacker Salary Benchmarks (2026)Freelance Ethical Hacker Hourly RatesFactors That Affect CostROI of Penetration TestingRed Flag Pricing (Scam Warning Signs)Hire a Hacker for Cell Phone: iPhone & Android Security ServicesiPhone Security Testing ServicesAndroid Security Testing ServicesMobile Forensics Cost BreakdownWhatsApp & Social Media Account RecoveryThe Truth About “Hire a Hacker WhatsApp” ServicesWhy People Search for WhatsApp HackersLegitimate WhatsApp Account Recovery MethodsSocial Media Account Recovery by PlatformSocial Media Hacking Statistics (2026)How to Hire a Hacker Safely (Step-by-Step)Step 1: Define Your Needs ClearlyStep 2: Verify CredentialsStep 3: Request a ConsultationStep 4: Review the ContractStep 5: Verify AuthorizationIs It Safe to Hire a Hacker? Avoiding Scams5 Warning Signs of Scam ServicesHow to Verify LegitimacyScam StatisticsLegal Considerations: What You Can and Cannot DoLegal Uses of Ethical Hacking ServicesIllegal Uses (Avoid These)Legal Penalties for Unauthorized AccessWhen Phone Monitoring Is LegalWhere to Hire Legitimate Ethical HackersPlatforms for Hiring Security ProfessionalsQuestions to Ask Before HiringFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ)General QuestionsAccount Recovery QuestionsMobile Security QuestionsWhatsApp & Messaging QuestionsLegal QuestionsPricing & Hiring QuestionsTechnical QuestionsConclusion: Making the Right ChoiceKey Takeaways:Ready to Secure Your Digital Life?Additional ResourcesOfficial Platform Recovery LinksCybersecurity ResourcesReport Cybercrime Why People Search “Hire a Hacker” (Search Intent Breakdown) Understanding why you’re searching helps you find the right solution. Based on s...
Beyond BITTER: MENA Civil Society Targeted in Hack-For-Hire Operation ...
Our observations indicate that victims using iOS devices are targeted via phishing links impersonating iCloud, likely in an attempt to access backups of their mobile devices, in addition to specific targeting of E2EE applications such as Signal and Botim.
Inside the Hack That Exposed Syria's Digital Fragility
Inside the Hack That Exposed Syria's Digital Fragility When Syrian government accounts were hijacked in March, the breach looked chaotic - but it revealed something more troubling: a state still failing at the most basic layer of cybersecurity.
