WikiLeaks puts FinFisher "weaponized malware" out to help devs build defense tools

[Justin Kahn]

Today, WikiLeaks has released FinFisher's "weaponized malware," which is used by governments and other organizations around the world for spying on people. Using common malware techniques the software can be used to not only tap PC systems, but also mobile data via iOS, Android and Blackberry devices.

The controversial move to put the software out into the wild is part of a push by WikiLeaks to bring awareness to its existence and to allow developers to create ways to protect against it among other things. WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Julian Assange said “FinFisher continues to operate brazenly from Germany selling weaponised surveillance malware to some of the most abusive regimes in the world. The Merkel government pretends to be concerned about privacy, but its actions speak otherwise."

The "weaponized malware" is developed by a German company and is documented to be mainly "used against journalists, activists and political dissidents," according to WikiLeaks. It is estimated that FinFisher's revenue from sales pertaining to this software amount to nearly €50,000,000 (more than $64,700,000). WikiLeaks includes governments from the following countries as FinFisher surviellance product clients: Slovakia, Mongolia, Qatar State Security, South Africa, Bahrain, Pakistan, Estonia, Vietnam, Australia, Belgium, Nigeria, Netherlands, and more.

While WikiLeaks is very aware of the risks in making software like this freely available to anyone, it feels that the benefits outweigh the risks and that developers may also be to help track down its "command and control centers."

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/58076-wikileaks-puts-finfisher-weaponized-malware-out-to-help-devs-build-defense-tools.html

 

[psycros]

If Wikileaks were serious about rendering this malware impotent they would have sent copies only to the major security firms like Symantec, ESET and so on. Posting decompilable or source code on sites where anyone can get at it means that the antivirus vendors will racing against the clock to defend against this threat. However, there's also every chance that the security industry was already quite aware of Finfisher but was relying on it to be an infection vector, which helps them sell products. Another possibility is that most of the devs have either been bought off or threatened into doing nothing to block this spying suite. At any rate, Wikileaks proves once again that its nothing but a pack of left-wing anarchists.

 

[Guest]

Oh congratulations Assange, you just got yourself shot. What a clown. Do we realise yet that this guy is mentally unfit for anything except hiding? Such a coward.

 

[Guest]

@ psycros: so, everything on your list points towards a compromised, threatened, and/or greedy security groups, what is very well possible, yet WikiLeaks are the bad folks ("left-wing anarchists") in the case?

I mean, if they are already in that situation (AV groups letting it run untouched), doesn't is make a little more sense to try and force them to block by simply making it available for everyone, not just the states?

 

[Guest]

Go Assange. This is the Guest commenter who dont suck government's balls.

 

[Guest]

@ psycros
Soo, giving out this stuff to people so that they can protect themselves is anarchistic ?
But giving it to mayor security firms (that can easily be bought), is a sane thing to do ?

Whats wrong with some people ?....