Cyber Espionage

! [](https://book-cyberyozh.ams3.digitaloceanspaces.com/1741955945682-3.2_Rq1NfTA_tm3iYB5.png)

Cyber espionage is such a broad concept that there is no way to cover it in a single chapter. Therefore, I am forced to limit the discussion to only a few aspects, and this chapter will focus on cyber espionage using malware and industrial cyber espionage.

Cyber Espionage Using Malware

The modern person carries a mobile phone in their pocket, which most likely has a microphone, two cameras, and a GPS/GLONASS sensor. These technologies allow for eavesdropping on the environment, observing through cameras, and tracking the owner's movements. There is no need to mention gaining access to calls, messages, or emails.

Do you think these are theoretical threats? Have you heard about smartphones from companies like Xiaomi, Huawei, or Lenovo? Did you know that some time ago these companies were caught supplying phones with built-in spyware? And this is no joke, no speculation, and no rumor – unfortunately, it is pure truth. The spyware could monitor the owners, eavesdrop on calls, and transmit data to malicious actors. It is not a fact that the manufacturers are to blame; it is quite possible that the spyware was installed somewhere along the way to the end customer.

Maybe you think that iOS users are safe? Tell that to the well-known human rights activist from the UAE, Ahmed Mansoor, who once had the foresight to forward a link sent to him on his iPhone to cybersecurity experts. This led to the discovery of the Pegasus malware, which exploited three 0-day vulnerabilities in iOS.

Clicking on that link would have infected the device and turned his iPhone into a perfect tool for cyber espionage. All iOS device owners should be grateful for Ahmed Mansoor's caution.

But perhaps you are using a less common version of a mobile operating system or a so-called crypto smartphone like BlackBerry or Blackphone? Forget about invulnerable technology: the year 2018 began with Meltdown – the discovery of a nine-year-old critical vulnerability in processors, which almost all modern devices are vulnerable to. This vulnerability became one of the most extensive and dangerous in history, literally dividing the world into before and after its discovery. Therefore, less common systems and crypto phones will not save you, especially since the same Blackphone was hacked at BlackHat in just 5 minutes...