Biden Administration Bans Israeli Former General's Spyware Firms

The Biden administration has taken action against two spyware firms run by an Israeli former general. This move by the Commerce Department is part of a larger effort to curb the out-of-control spyware industry.

The companies, Intellexa and Cytrox, are at the center of a political scandal in Greece. Government officials in Greece have been accused of using their hacking tools against journalists and political opponents.

Both Intellexa and Cytrox are under the control of Tal Dilian, a former general in the Israeli military intelligence. Dilian was forced to retire from the Israeli Defense Forces in 2003 following an internal investigation into suspected mismanagement of funds.

Dilian eventually relocated to Cyprus, an EU island nation that has become a popular hub for surveillance firms and cyberintelligence experts.

Last year, Greek authorities launched an investigation into the use of Intellexa's primary hacking tool, Predator, by the country's spy agency. It was also discovered that Greece had licensed Predator to an African country, Madagascar.

Predator was primarily used to target local politicians and journalists, but it was also used against a U.S. citizen who was working for Meta at the time. The Greek spy agency had wiretapped her.

Despite increased attention to the dangers of commercial spyware, hacking tools continue to proliferate. A senior Biden administration official stated that one goal of blacklisting these firms is to dissuade potential investors from supporting the industry.

- CyberBeat