Israel Police purchased new surveillance software without AG approval
#Pegasus #NSO #Israel #Spyware #Rayzone #Echo
A year-and-a-half after the shutdown of NSO's Pegasus, Israel Police recently purchased new surveillance software from the Israeli cyber intelligence company Rayzone. The software makes it possible, among other things, to locate a person's location and path of movement with an accuracy of one meter and makes it possible to receive additional information from the applications on the target's device. The purchased tool, known as Echo, has to date been sold by Rayzone to intelligence organizations around the world and its use raises questions regarding law, privacy and technology.
#Pegasus #NSO #Israel #Spyware #Rayzone #Echo
"The weaponisation of everything." Everyday technologies like smart cars are increasingly dual-use or exploitable for offensive purposes, turning consumer devices into potential tools for espionage, sabotage, or hybrid warfare.
A recent article in Haaretz mentioned the emerging field of CARINT (car intelligence), where Israeli companies develop and sell advanced cyber tools that exploit connected vehicles' systems—such as hands-free Bluetooth, tire-pressure sensors, SIM cards, cameras, microphones, and other data streams—to track movements, identify targets among thousands of vehicles, fuse data for surveillance, and directly access audio/video feeds. At least three Israeli firms are active in this sector, turning everyday cars into intelligence-gathering platforms.
One company (#Toka, co-founded by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and ex-army cyber chief Brig. Gen. (ret.) Yaron Rosen) has developed an offensive tool capable of hacking into a specific vehicle's multimedia systems to pinpoint location, track movements, and eavesdrop via built-in microphones and cameras.
Other firms like #Rayzone and #Ateros/Netline are mentioned for similar tracking and data-fusion capabilities.
What the article doesn't mention is that connected cars can be weaponized by gaining control over critical systems like brakes, steering, acceleration, or engines. This could lead to targeted assassinations, mass accidents, or terrorism by causing vehicles to crash intentionally.
In a more sinister scenario, fleets of autonomous or connected vehicles could be used en masse for coordinated attacks, such as ramming into crowds or infrastructure, amplifying the impact beyond a single vehicle.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-02-16/ty-article-magazine/.premium/your-car-is-spying-on-you-and-israeli-firms-are-leading-the-surveillance-race/
@LauraRuHK
A recent article in Haaretz mentioned the emerging field of CARINT (car intelligence), where Israeli companies develop and sell advanced cyber tools that exploit connected vehicles' systems—such as hands-free Bluetooth, tire-pressure sensors, SIM cards, cameras, microphones, and other data streams—to track movements, identify targets among thousands of vehicles, fuse data for surveillance, and directly access audio/video feeds. At least three Israeli firms are active in this sector, turning everyday cars into intelligence-gathering platforms.
One company (#Toka, co-founded by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and ex-army cyber chief Brig. Gen. (ret.) Yaron Rosen) has developed an offensive tool capable of hacking into a specific vehicle's multimedia systems to pinpoint location, track movements, and eavesdrop via built-in microphones and cameras.
Other firms like #Rayzone and #Ateros/Netline are mentioned for similar tracking and data-fusion capabilities.
What the article doesn't mention is that connected cars can be weaponized by gaining control over critical systems like brakes, steering, acceleration, or engines. This could lead to targeted assassinations, mass accidents, or terrorism by causing vehicles to crash intentionally.
In a more sinister scenario, fleets of autonomous or connected vehicles could be used en masse for coordinated attacks, such as ramming into crowds or infrastructure, amplifying the impact beyond a single vehicle.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-02-16/ty-article-magazine/.premium/your-car-is-spying-on-you-and-israeli-firms-are-leading-the-surveillance-race/
@LauraRuHK