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Discover-Tech digital surveillance allegations

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2026-10-29 08:39 UTC → 2026-10-29 13:42 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Research has identified the Israeli advertising technology firm Discover-Tech as a central actor in sophisticated cyber espionage and surveillance operations. Initial findings from Citizen Lab and Confiant detailed a campaign known as ‘AdFection’, which utilized the firm’s Controlium platform to deliver zero-click spyware through malicious digital advertisements. This operation, active between March and June 2026, targeted over 70,000 mobile applications and 120,000 websites. The campaign reportedly reached high-profile entities including NATO, the United Nations, and the European Parliament, as well as staff at Al Jazeera. The spyware used in these attacks was attributed to Candiru, an Israeli firm previously blacklisted by the United States. New details indicate that at least 45 devices belonging to Al Jazeera staff were targeted during 2024 and ~~2025, and researchers noted that the mere display of an ad may indicate profiling even if an infection did not occur.~~ 2025. Subsequent research by TrendAI, a unit of Trend Micro, identified Discover-Tech as a leading bidder for advertisements targeting Starlink satellite internet users across more than 100 countries. ~~This activity, referred~~ Referred to by researchers under the codename ‘Shadow-Earth-79’, this activity suggests ~~the ads~~ that real-time bidding (RTB) systems may ~~have been used~~ be exploited to geolocate or surveil users, including those in nations where Starlink service is restricted or banned. TrendAI ~~researchers~~ noted that the ad auction process allows bidders to access ~~device~~ technical data, such as IP addresses and ~~network information,~~ device characteristics, which can be aggregated to track individuals. Discover-Tech showed dominant bidding activity in markets with low legitimate Western advertising demand, such as Syria, Libya, Yemen, and South Sudan, and was the second-largest bidder in Afghanistan. Researchers noted that monitoring Starlink users is particularly valuable as the service allows users to bypass national telecommunications infrastructure and censorship.

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