Al-Madina News: Last year, knowledgeable sources reported that spyware created by an Israeli espionage firm was used to target more than 12 prominent Indonesian government and military figures.
Reuters was informed by sources that senior military officers, two regional ambassadors, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Erlanga Hartarto, and advisers in the Indonesian defence and foreign affairs ministries were among those targeted.
According to six of the targeted Indonesian officials and consultants, Apple sent them an email in November 2021 notifying them that they were “being targeted by state-sponsored attackers.”
Apple opted not to comment and withheld the names or number of users who were targeted.
Apple and security experts explained that the recipients of the warnings were selected using the “Forced Entry” programme, a sophisticated programme used by the infamous “NSO” Israeli group, which is known for selling electronic surveillance technologies to foreign intelligence agencies, with the intention of remotely and covertly controlling iPhone devices.
A very comparable hacking tool has reportedly been created by Quadrim, another Israeli electrical business, according to Reuters. Efforts have been successful.
The attempted targeting of Indonesian officials, which has not previously been revealed, is one of the biggest instances of the spyware being used against government personnel, military, and defence officials that has been discovered to date, claim cyber security specialists.
Requests for comment were not answered by representatives of the Indonesian government, military, defence ministry, or cybersecurity agency.
Arabic21.
Report: 12 Indonesian officials were targeted by Israeli spyware
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