Israeli company used online ads to run vast spy operation, researchers say

Researchers have identified an Israeli digital advertising agency, Discover-Tech, as the operator of a large-scale surveillance network. The firm allegedly utilized online advertisements to track and identify internet users, even when those users did not interact with the ads. This infrastructure was reportedly used to facilitate the deployment of spyware from Candiru, an Israeli firm previously placed on a blacklist.

The operation functioned by embedding tracking mechanisms within a sprawling network of digital advertisements. By monitoring user data and device information, the agency could pinpoint targets for potential hacking. The findings highlight the intersection of the digital advertising industry and the private surveillance sector, demonstrating how standard web traffic tools can be repurposed to compromise device security.