Israeli ad firm used online ads to track users and deliver spyware, researchers say
What Happened
Israeli digital advertising company Discover-Tech used online advertisements to identify and track internet users and, in some cases, help spyware firms compromise targeted devices, according to investigations by Citizen Lab and Confiant. The ads reached more than 120,000 websites and 75,000 apps, and researchers said some were used to help deploy spyware linked to Israeli surveillance company Candiru.
Key Takeaways
Researchers said the ads could track users simply by loading on a website, without requiring a click. Google subsequently removed Discover-Tech from its advertising platforms, while IAB Europe suspended the company’s status. Discover-Tech did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.