Redazione RHC : 17 November 2025 21:52
Spyware (also known as spy apps) represent one of the most insidious and dangerous threats of the digital age. These are malicious programs designed to infiltrate a user’s device, collecting personal information and monitoring their activities without the victim’s knowledge.
Their main characteristic is their ability to operate unnoticed, often for extended periods, allowing attackers to obtain enormous amounts of sensitive data , such as login credentials, private messages, browsing history, and even financial details. This makes them particularly insidious, as many people only discover they’ve been affected when it’s too late.
Worrying about spyware isn’t an exaggeration: the consequences can be serious. They range from identity theft to compromised privacy, from financial loss to breaches of corporate data, and even blackmail or exploitation of collected information. Whether you’re a private citizen, a freelancer, or a corporate executive, the risk is real and concrete.
To fully understand the phenomenon, this article will guide you through the key aspects of the world of spyware. We’ll examine who it targets, exploring the most common victim categories, from private users to large organizations. We’ll look at how modern spyware works, analyzing the technologies that allow it to infiltrate and operate undetected. We’ll delve into the concrete dangers it poses to security and privacy. We’ll also show you how to protect yourself, providing practical advice and useful tools to prevent and address this threat .
Spyware, also known as spy apps, is a technological tool designed to monitor, record, and transmit sensitive information from its victims’ devices . This software, often hidden within seemingly innocuous apps or installed through phishing and social engineering techniques, has become increasingly sophisticated, posing a real threat to millions of people and organizations worldwide.
But who are the victims of these attacks? And what are the main objectives of spyware?
To understand the scope of this threat, it is essential to examine the different categories of targets, highlighting the dynamics that make them vulnerable.
One of the most frequently targeted groups are private users, often unaware of the risks they are exposed to. Spyware is used to collect personal information, such as private messages, photos, browsing history, and even banking data . In some cases, these tools are used in family or personal contexts, for example by suspicious partners, resulting in serious privacy violations and, at times, psychological abuse.
Professionals are also a common target of spyware. Confidential documents, work emails, and project or client details can be stolen and used for corporate sabotage, unfair competition, or even extortion. For those who work remotely or use personal devices for work, the risk increases exponentially, as these tools can easily infiltrate unprotected devices.
Businesses, both small and large, are prime targets for spyware. Attacking an organization allows attackers to obtain sensitive data on a large scale, such as strategic plans, trade secrets, or customer databases. Spyware can be used by competitors, cybercriminals, or even nation-states for economic or political espionage. The consequences for a company can include serious financial damage, loss of reputation, and legal action from affected customers or partners.
Celebrities and public figures are particularly vulnerable to spyware. Their private lives are often the subject of intense scrutiny, and spyware becomes a tool for obtaining intimate information or compromising materials, often sold to the media or used for blackmail . This phenomenon has prompted many of them to invest in advanced security measures to protect their devices.
Finally, spyware is sometimes used in government and military settings. While there are legal surveillance tools, such as those used by law enforcement, some spyware has been used by authoritarian regimes to monitor political dissidents, journalists, or activists. This raises important ethical and legal questions about the use of such technologies.
Modern spyware represents an impressive technological evolution, made possible by sophisticated techniques and software vulnerabilities exploited with surgical precision. Their operation often relies on zero-day exploits, vulnerabilities unknown to the software developers and therefore unpatched at the time of the attack. These zero-days are particularly valuable because they allow spyware to penetrate target systems without triggering any security alerts.
A prime example is the use of exploit chains that allow “zero-click” interactions to compromise WhatsApp, one of the world’s most popular messaging apps . Attackers exploited zero-day, zero-click bugs in the app’s code to install spyware on victims’ devices simply through a phone call, often without the victim even having to answer.
The concept is simple: the more popular the application, the greater the interest of security researchers in detecting bugs. This is because such bugs, if they allowed complete access to a terminal, could be exploited on a very large number of terminals and therefore monitor many people.
These types of exploits, with extremely high commercial value, demonstrate the scope of the problem: zero-day vulnerabilities require no significant user interaction, making the attack nearly impossible to detect.
Behind many spyware attacks lies an extremely lucrative market: the buying and selling of zero-day exploits. Specialized brokers like Zerodium and Crowdfense act as intermediaries between vulnerability discoverers and buyers, often governments and intelligence agencies. These brokers offer enormous sums to acquire exploits: prices can reach millions of dollars for a single critical vulnerability , especially if it affects widely used software like operating systems or communications applications.
Once purchased, these zero-days are integrated into suites of intelligence tools, designed to spy on specific targets without leaving a trace. These tools are then made available to selected buyers, typically governments, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence agencies.
When spyware equipped with zero-day exploits is activated, it can be configured to collect a wide range of information: messages, voice recordings, browsing history, GPS location, and even biometric data. These tools are often used for highly targeted operations, such as monitoring political dissidents, journalists, public figures, or individuals of strategic interest. Zero-days enable stealth infiltration , allowing access to devices without any visible signal to the user.
The astronomical cost of full-chain zero-day/zero-click exploits reflects their effectiveness and the sensitive nature of their targets. However, the use of these tools also raises significant ethical questions. While many government agencies justify their use for national security reasons, the abuse of these technologies by authoritarian regimes or unethical entities is a worrying reality. Digital espionage operations can easily result in large-scale privacy violations, compromising fundamental rights and civil liberties.
Behind the creation of modern spyware lies a highly specialized industry , composed of companies dedicated to developing offensive intelligence tools for governments, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence agencies. These companies are known by the acronym PSOA ( Public Sector Offensive Actor ), a term that highlights their role as private actors serving the public sector.
One of the best-known names in this sector is NSO Group , an Israeli company that has gained international notoriety thanks to its Pegasus spyware. This advanced tool has been used in several surveillance operations to monitor journalists, human rights activists, and political leaders. Pegasus can infiltrate mobile devices without any interaction from the victim. This is possible thanks to the valuable exploits we saw previously.
However, NSO Group is just the tip of the iceberg. There are a growing number of PSOAs around the world, each with tools designed for specific needs . These companies exist in a gray area between technological innovation and ethical implications , as their tools, while declared to be intended for legitimate purposes such as fighting crime, are often misused.
NSO Group is just the tip of the iceberg among a number of companies producing “cyberweapons” and espionage tools. Numerous other companies also operate in this sector, developing spyware. These include:
These companies are often embroiled in controversies related to the use of their products in violation of human rights, with implications that have attracted the attention of the international community.
Italy has also played its part in the spyware industry. A prime example is Hacking Team , a Milan-based company that developed surveillance tools such as the infamous RCS (Remote Control System) software. The company came under scrutiny after a massive data leak in 2015 that revealed how its tools were being used by authoritarian governments to spy on journalists and political opponents.
Another notable Italian case is that of E-Surv , known for its Exodus spyware, designed to collect information from mobile devices . Exodus was at the center of scandals regarding its misuse and vulnerabilities that put even users not directly involved in the surveillance operations at risk.
The spyware industry is global and operates in an environment where international regulation is often lacking. These companies work closely with governments and intelligence agencies, but the risk of their tools being abused is high. The combination of technological innovation and a multi-billion dollar market makes the sector particularly opaque, with many companies operating in the shadows.
The use of spyware has a series of devastating consequences for privacy , threatening one of the fundamental rights of individuals: control over their personal information. These tools, designed to monitor, collect, and manipulate data, go far beyond simple technological espionage, directly impacting the freedom and security of individuals, especially when used in sensitive political and social contexts.
Spyware protection has become a crucial necessity in an era where personal privacy is constantly under threat. As spyware evolves and becomes increasingly sophisticated, it’s essential that users take preventative measures to defend themselves from these invasive attacks. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution , a combination of advanced security tools and good daily practices can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of spyware.
The first step in protecting yourself from spyware is installing high-quality antivirus software . These tools are designed to detect and remove a wide range of threats, including spyware, malware, and other forms of malicious software . Many modern antivirus programs also integrate specific features for spyware protection, such as real-time monitoring of suspicious activity and regular system scans.
It’s crucial to choose security software from a reputable vendor that offers regular updates and can detect the latest threats. Some of the best antivirus programs include Bitdefender, Malwarebytes, Kaspersky, and Norton, which offer advanced tools to identify and neutralize the latest spyware.
Another key measure to protect your devices from spyware is to always keep your operating system and all installed applications up to date. Software developers regularly release security updates that fix known vulnerabilities and address any bugs that could be exploited by attackers to infect your device with spyware.
It’s important to enable automatic updates on all your devices so you don’t miss any security patches. It’s also advisable to only use official versions of apps , avoiding downloads from unverified sources that could be compromised.
Another way to protect yourself from spyware is to pay close attention to links and attachments in emails, messages, or websites you visit. Many spyware programs are distributed through phishing campaigns , which trick users into clicking on malicious links or downloading infected attachments.
To avoid falling for phishing scams, it’s always best to verify the sender’s trustworthiness before clicking on any links or opening attachments, especially if the email seems suspicious or comes from an unknown source. Additionally, avoiding downloading software or applications from unofficial or dubious websites significantly reduces the risk of infection.
Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) and encryption software is essential for protecting your privacy while browsing the internet. A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for anyone to intercept your online activity and for spyware to collect personal information.
Additionally, using encryption software to protect sensitive data, such as communications and stored files, is a good practice to reduce the risk of exposure. Encryption ensures that, even in the event of unauthorized access, the data is unreadable without the correct decryption key.
Another good practice is to regularly monitor your device for suspicious activity. Many spyware programs tend to slow down your system or consume more battery power than usual. If you notice unusual behavior, such as abnormal resource consumption or an internet connection that seems to be constantly active, it may be time to run a thorough scan with antivirus software.
Additionally, some tools can detect if there are unknown or unauthorized apps running on your device. Monitoring and managing installed apps helps identify any hidden malicious software.
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