Title: Rising Costs of Hacking Cell Phones Fuel Cyber Arms Race
Subtitle: Russian Firm Offers $20 Million for Bugs to Compromise iOS and Android Devices
Jala News – In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, hacking cell phones has become an expensive undertaking due to enhanced security measures. Both iOS and Android devices have become harder to compromise, leading to increased costs for those seeking to exploit vulnerabilities.
A recent development has shed light on the high stakes of this cyber arms race. A Russian company recently offered a staggering $20 million to acquire chains of bugs capable of compromising phones running both iOS and Android. The company clarified that their clients exclusively comprise Russian private and government organizations. This exorbitant bid highlights the growing demand for hacking techniques in sensitive sectors.
Notably, the escalating prices are not limited to overall device breaches. Specific app-focused techniques, such as those targeting WhatsApp, have also seen a surge in value. Leaked documents have revealed that a zero-day exploit enabling users to compromise WhatsApp on Android and read message content can cost anywhere between $1.7 million to $8 million in 2021. WhatsApp has long been a popular target for government hackers, including controversial spyware maker NSO Group.
Further examining the WhatsApp ecosystem, a company offered a “zero-click RCE” exploit for the platform in 2021, priced at around $1.7 million. This exploit required no interaction from the target and could successfully operate on Android versions 9 to 11. The allure of WhatsApp-specific exploits lies in their potential to grant government hackers access to targeted individuals’ conversations.
Buyers of these hacking techniques are primarily interested in the capabilities they enable, which range from spying on their targets to acquiring sensitive information. Combining multiple pieces of exploits often becomes necessary to achieve the desired outcome.
Despite these revelations, WhatsApp declined to comment on the matter. Encouragingly, individuals with information about the market for zero-day exploits are being urged to contact TechCrunch securely. Shedding light on these clandestine operations can help push the industry towards more secure and accountable practices.
As the battle between hackers and security mechanisms intensifies, the rising costs associated with compromising cell phones serve as a reminder of the ever-present need for robust cyber defenses. With valuable information and privacy at stake, it is crucial for users and manufacturers alike to remain vigilant against potential threats.
Word count: 372 words
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”