Italian spyware maker IPS caught using fake Android apps for surveillance
Original: Another spyware maker caught distributing fake Android snooping apps
Why This Matters
Reveals growing ecosystem of government spyware vendors beyond well-known players
Digital rights organization Osservatorio Nessuno discovered Italian company IPS distributing Morpheus spyware disguised as phone update apps. The malware steals device data by exploiting Android accessibility features after tricking targets into installation.
Italian digital rights group Osservatorio Nessuno published a report Thursday exposing a new spyware called Morpheus, linked to Italian company IPS. The 30-year-old firm provides lawful interception technology to police forces across 20+ countries. Morpheus masquerades as phone updating apps and relies on social engineering rather than sophisticated zero-click attacks used by companies like NSO Group. Researchers found authorities worked with telecom providers to block targets' mobile data, then sent SMS messages prompting installation of fake update apps. Once installed, the spyware exploits Android's accessibility features to read screen data and interact with other apps. IPS did not respond to TechCrunch's request for comment. The discovery highlights the high demand for government surveillance tools and the numerous companies operating in this space.