Ethical Hacking News
Intellexa's Predator spyware has infected an Angolan journalist's device, exposing the country to the global threat of espionage and surveillance. Amnesty International has confirmed that the attack was carried out using a malicious WhatsApp link, highlighting the dangers posed by such tactics in silencing journalists who speak out against authoritarian regimes.
Amnesty International reported on Intellexa's use of Predator spyware to infect an Angolan journalist's iPhone. The spyware provided attackers with access to the journalist's messages, calls, emails, location, camera, microphone, and passwords. The incident highlights how targeted surveillance operations can be used to intimidate and silence journalists who speak out against authoritarian regimes. Intellexa's Predator spyware has been identified as a highly invasive tool capable of granting attackers total access to devices. Amnesty International condemns such technologies, arguing they are incompatible with human rights standards. The incident raises legal questions about Intellexa's role in relation to the spyware and its potential criminal responsibility for unlawful surveillance operations.
Amnesty International has recently reported a shocking incident of espionage and surveillance carried out by Intellexa, a powerful mobile spyware platform. The company's proprietary technology, known as the Predator spyware, was used to infect the iPhone of an Angolan journalist, Teixeira Cândido, who is a prominent press freedom advocate.
According to the report, in May 2024, Teixeira Cândido received a malicious WhatsApp link from an attacker posing as a student. Unbeknownst to him, this link was actually a sophisticated phishing attempt designed to install the Predator spyware on his device. Once infected, the spyware provided attackers with full access to his iPhone, including messages, calls, emails, location, camera, microphone, passwords, and other sensitive data.
The use of such malicious tactics is particularly alarming given the journalist's prominent role in advocating for press freedom in Angola. The incident highlights how targeted surveillance operations can be used to intimidate and silence journalists who dare to speak out against authoritarian regimes.
Intellexa's Predator spyware has been identified as a highly invasive tool, capable of granting attackers total access to devices. This raises significant concerns regarding the company's role in facilitating human rights abuses worldwide. Amnesty International has condemned such technologies, arguing that they are fundamentally incompatible with human rights standards.
Further investigation by Amnesty revealed that Intellexa had potential visibility into active surveillance operations carried out by its customers, including technical information about targets. This new development raises legal questions about Intellexa's role in relation to the spyware and the company's potential legal or criminal responsibility for unlawful surveillance operations.
The incident of Teixeira Cândido highlights the global scope of these threats. As Amnesty International notes, "the unchecked sale and use of surveillance technologies continue to facilitate human rights abuses at a global scale." The case underscores the need for stronger regulations and safeguards to prevent such malicious activities from being carried out by companies like Intellexa.
In light of this report, it is essential to scrutinize Intellexa's operations more closely and demand greater transparency regarding its business practices. The international community must also be vigilant in holding accountable those responsible for facilitating human rights abuses through the sale and use of such surveillance technologies.
As we move forward, it is crucial to prioritize the safety and security of journalists and other vulnerable individuals who are targeted by these malicious activities. We must work together to create a safer digital landscape that promotes transparency, accountability, and respect for human rights.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Intellexas-Predator-Spyware-A-Threat-to-Global-Journalistic-Freedom-ehn.shtml
https://securityaffairs.com/188215/malware/intellexas-predator-spyware-infected-angolan-journalists-device-amnesty-reports.html
https://securitylab.amnesty.org/latest/2025/12/intellexa-leaks-predator-spyware-operations-exposed/
Published: Thu Feb 19 09:47:55 2026 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
