German investigative agency raided the company of the commercial spyware FinSpy
The German Customs Investigation Bureau recently raided the business premises of many companies to find relevant illegal evidence at the order of the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office.
In fact, the core content of this operation is the well-known spyware FinSpy. The business premises of these companies under investigation are directly or indirectly related to the spyware.
For example, the business premises and offices of FinFisher GmbH, which is the developer behind this notorious spyware, were also investigated.
The software named FinSpy is a commercial spyware developed by FinFisher GmbH, which has powerful surveillance functions and is exported to many countries around the world.
This commercial spyware supports all mainstream operating systems such as Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS and provides comprehensive surveillance.
The operator who uses the spyware can remotely turn on the camera and microphone of the target user to monitor and record all keyboard strokes.
However, the software is not malware in the traditional sense. Its developers sell it as legitimate software to customers, most of whom are certain state agencies.
It is also true that the German security services and prosecutors were unable to use charges in the computer field to combat the spyware, and the prosecutors finally decided that the German customs agency would take action.
As early as 2015, this powerful commercial espionage software was reported, and at that time EU regulators were also unable to block it on computer-related crimes.
Then the European Union announced that if this commercial spyware needs to be exported to non-EU countries in Europe, it must apply for a license to the EU in advance to obtain approval before it can be exported.
However, a recent investigation found that there are still non-EU member states in Europe that have obtained this spyware, and used the spyware to perform monitoring in certain special areas.
After being reported, the Munich Public Prosecutor’s Office in Germany ordered the staff of the German Customs Investigation Bureau to raid the developer’s office on the grounds of violating export controls.
The raids included FinFisher GmbH and its partners, managing directors’ private apartments, and partner companies related to the spyware.
If it is proven that the software is exported to non-EU member states without a license, German and EU regulators may be able to block the developer.
Via: thehackernews
