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Mohammed Al-Maskati

@mohdmaskati.bsky.social
308 followers 55 following 91 posts

Digital Security Helpline Director at Access Now www.accessnow.org/profile/mohammed

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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
6/6 🎥 Watch yesterday’s webinar: youtu.be/saZk2RIyyxk 📚 Explore all four sessions: www.accessnow.org/event/digita... Let’s keep the conversation going and work together toward a safer, more resilient digital world. #DigitalSecurity #CybersecurityAwarenessMonth
youtu.be
Stronger together: civil society and the private sector as partners in cybersecurity awareness
YouTube video by Access Now
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
5/6 Our 2026 series may be over, but the conversation continues! 👀 We’ll be back with more webinars in 2027. What digital security topics should we discuss next? Which experts or organizations should we invite? We’d love to hear your ideas!
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
4/6 I’m also deeply grateful to the @accessnow.org Digital Security Helpline team for contributing as speakers and working behind the scenes to organize and manage the series. Special thanks to my wonderful colleagues for their dedication and teamwork!
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
3/6 A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined yesterday’s webinar and participated in our previous sessions. Your insights, questions, and engagement made these conversations possible. ❤️
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
2/6 The idea behind this series is simple: digital security awareness is a shared responsibility. Technology platforms, private companies, and civil society must come together, exchange knowledge, and build dialogue to create a safer digital world for everyone.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 14/10/2026
1/6 - Yesterday, we wrapped up the final webinar of 2026 hosted by the @accessnow.org Digital Security Helpline team! 🎉 Since March, we’ve held four sessions bringing together voices from across the digital security ecosystem. It’s been a meaningful journey!
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Access Now @accessnow.org · 25/09/2026
As we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we invite you to join us for a conversation about the current cybersecurity landscape, the threats we’re seeing, and how we can work together to build greater resilience in the digital age. Register 🔽 www.accessnow.org/event/digita...
Civil society and the private sector as partners in cybersecurity awareness. OCTOBER 13, 2026 / 9 AM EST / 3 PM CEST. Nighat Dad, Executive Director, Digital Rights Foundation Pakistan. Alexander Corbeil, Policy Lead, Trust and Safety, Bluesky. Gabrielė Dačkaitė, Social Impact Lead, Surfshark
Beatrice Martini, Education and Communities Manager, Digital Security Helpline. Namrata Maheshwari, Asia Pacific Policy Manager, Access Now. Join us to discuss challenges and opportunities for civil society and tech platforms to come together and promote cybersecurity awareness.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🔐 The people most at risk online are often missing from the cybersecurity debate. Let's change that. Join @accessnow.org Digital Security Helpline, civil society & tech platforms to discuss keeping at-risk communities safe. 📅 Oct 13, 9am EST 👉 www.accessnow.org/event/digita...
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Access Now @accessnow.org · 22/09/2026
From RightsCon Continues Mohammed Al-Maskati, Digital Security Helpline Director at Access Now, and Palestinian tech and human rights activists unpack how biometric surveillance and AI-driven targeting function as tools of war and occupation. Don’t miss out — jump onto the platform and join us!
Screenshot: Mohammed Al-Maskati, Digital Security Helpline Director at Access Now
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Access Now @accessnow.org · 18/09/2026
Join Access Now and @7amleh.bsky.social for “Surveillance as Warfare: Biometric Control, AI Targeting, and Corporate Complicity in Palestine” at RightsCon Continues — discussing biometric surveillance, AI targeting + corporate involvement. 📅 Sep 22 | 4:15 pm CEST rightscon.summit.tc/catalog/righ...
Dialogue: Surveillance as Warfare: Biometric control, AI targeting, and corporate complicity in Palestine. September 22, 2026 at 4:15 pm CEST.
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Access Now @accessnow.org · 03/09/2026
Our Digital Security Helpline Director, @mohdmaskati.bsky.social, joins Somewhere on Earth to unpack Apple’s spyware warnings, digital forensics, and how to build safer digital practices in an era of increasingly sophisticated spyware. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com
AI Medical Devices: Are We Using Them Before We Know They Work?
Podcast Episode · Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast · September 1 · 23m
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
If you’re an activist, journalist, human rights defender or civil society member, Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline can help. www.accessnow.org/help Security is never a state that you reach, but a practice that you keep.
accessnow.org
DIGITAL SECURITY HELPLINE - Access Now
Our Helpline provides 24/7 free of charge technical support for journalists, activists, and human rights defenders
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
9/9 🛡️ What can you do? Keep devices updated. Consider high-security settings like Lockdown Mode. Reduce your attack surface and separate personal/work devices where possible.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
8/9 📱 Be careful with “spyware scanner” apps. No single app or service can diagnose, prevent or mitigate every spyware attack. Some tools can be useful, but consumer apps have technical limitations — and you should only trust services from organizations you know and trust.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
7/9 ⚠️ No evidence doesn’t always mean you’re safe. Sophisticated spyware is designed to hide its traces. A good investigator should be transparent about the limits of their findings and avoid giving blanket guarantees that a device is “safe.”
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
6/9 🧩 Context matters. Technical findings can be connected with events around the time of a suspected attack — such as travel, sensitive work, meetings, suspicious messages or unusual device activity. Findings may also be independently reviewed by peer organizations.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
5/9 🧪 What happens during a forensic investigation? Investigators can examine system files, device logs and process histories for traces of spyware. They also work to preserve evidence and minimize access to sensitive data such as photos, contacts and communications.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
4/9 🔎 Think of it like a fire alarm. An Apple threat notification draws your attention to possible danger — but it doesn’t tell you exactly where the fire is. If the notification is authentic, seek trusted expert support and consider a digital forensic investigation.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
3/9 ⚠️ But an alert doesn’t tell you everything. It does not tell you whether the spyware attack succeeded, who was behind it, what their motives were, or what information they may have accessed. Further analysis is needed.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
2/9 🚨 What does an Apple threat notification mean? It means Apple detected activity suggesting you may have been targeted by sophisticated “mercenary spyware,” including spyware developed by companies such as NSO Group, Paragon, or Cytrox.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
1/9 🔐 Apple’s Spyware Warning: What It Tells You — and What It Doesn’t The @accessnow.org Now Digital Security Helpline wrote this post to help you understand Apple threat notifications, what they mean, and what you should do if you receive one. www.accessnow.org/apple-threat...
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I spoke with @techcrunch.com about Apple’s recent Mercenary Spyware threat notifications @accessnow.org techcrunch.com/2026/08/17/u...
techcrunch.com
‘Unprecedented’ number of Apple users received recent spyware alert, say investigators | TechCrunch
Cybersecurity experts who investigate spyware attacks say the number of people who received a recent threat notification from Apple is unusually high.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The @accessnow.org Now Digital Security Helpline can help. We provide digital security support and, when appropriate, forensic analysis to help understand what happened. #DigitalRights #AccessNow
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
If you receive one: update your device, enable Lockdown Mode, avoid suspicious links, and preserve evidence. Don’t panic—and don’t ignore it. #CyberSecurity #Apple
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
🚨 Got an Apple Threat Notification? Take it seriously. It doesn’t automatically mean your device is compromised, but it is a warning you shouldn’t ignore. #DigitalSecurity #Spyware
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Digital safety is also about wellbeing. Proud to see @accessnow.org 's Digital Security Helpline partner with Vita Activa to support activists facing both digital threats and mental health challenges. ❤️ www.accessnow.org/mental-healt...
accessnow.org
New partnership combines digital safety and mental health support
Access Now's Digital Security Helpline and Vita Activa offer holistic digital safety and mental health support for activists.
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Access Now @accessnow.org · 11/08/2026
For 10 years, the #KeepItOn campaign has united civil society to push back against internet shutdowns and defend human rights. Today, the movement is stronger than ever. Celebrate with us and join the #KeepItOn movement: www.accessnow.org/keepiton-10-...
accessnow.org
https://www.accessnow.org/keepiton-10-years-fighting-internet-shutdowns/
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Access Now @accessnow.org · 06/08/2026
What would you do if you woke up and realized the entire internet was down? No news. No way to know what's happening around you. All because your government decided to deliberately shut down the internet. Want to fight internet shutdowns? Join the #KeepItOn movement today: accessnow.org/keepiton
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
🚨 We’re hiring! The @accessnow.org Digital Security Helpline is looking for an Incident Response Analyst to join our global team. Help protect human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society from digital threats. Apply: accessnow.bamboohr.com/careers/237?... Please share!
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Mary Lawlor @marylawlorhrds.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
REMINDER: Tomorrow at 11am BST I'll launch Chasing Shadows, a report I commissioned into the killings of five HRDs in South Africa, Eswatini, the Philippines, Peru & Brazil. 🌐 Please use this updated link to follow live: teams.microsoft.com/meet/3957635... Registration: forms.gle/QTi4iGdZU4KQP5Yy6
Flyer for a report launch on 14 July 2026 titled “Chasing Shadows: investigating the killings of human rights defenders Fikile Ntshangase (South Africa), Thulani Maseko (Eswatini), Jude Fernandez (Philippines), Quinto Inuma Alvarado (Peru) & Maria Bernadete Pacifico (Brazil).” The report was commissioned by former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Mary Lawlor.

The event takes place at 11am British Standard Time in Room LG.08, University of Westminster, Little Titchfield Street Campus, London W1W 7BY. Online participation is available at https://msteams.link/2BKB. Registration is necessary at forms.gle/QTi4iGdZU4KQP5Yy6.

Speakers listed are Mary Lawlor, former UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of HRDs; Claire Lauterbach, investigative journalist & author of the report; Mary Pais, human rights lawyer from Eswatini; Kirsten Youens, human rights lawyer from South Africa; & Jerome Adonis, Chairperson of KMU, largest trade union in the Philippines.
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Access Now @accessnow.org · 09/07/2026
At #WSIS2026, our Senior Humanitarian Officer, @giuliowolfe.bsky.social, joined fellow experts to explore how digital governance, public-interest journalism, and human rights can strengthen information ecosystems in times of crisis. Photo credit: ©ITU/Pierre Albouy
our speakers sit at a panel during a discussion at WSIS. From left to right: Prof. Ingrid Volkmer of the University of Melbourne, Maksym Dvorovyi of Digital Security Lab Ukraine, Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi of UNESCO, and Giulio Coppi of Access Now. Canela de Souza Godoi speaks into a microphone while gesturing, as the other panelists listen. Photo credit: ©ITU/Pierre Albouy Giulio Coppi, Senior Humanitarian Officer at Access Now, sits at a panel discussion during WSIS, listening attentively. Photo credit: ©ITU/Pierre Albouy
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Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
NEW @citizenlab.ca report: Member of 🇪🇺 Euro Parliamentary committee (#PEGA) tasked with investigating spyware abuses himself hacked with Pegasus spyware 👇 citizenlab.ca/research/mem...
citizenlab.ca
Espionage Against the European Parliament: Member of Committee Investigating Spyware Hacked with Pegasus - The Citizen Lab
We found that former Member of the European Parliament Stelios Kouloglou was hacked with Pegasus spyware while serving on the PEGA committee, which investigated Pegasus and other spyware abuses in Eur...
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Access Now @accessnow.org · 02/07/2026
Join @giuliowolfe.bsky.social and experts from UNESCO, the University of Melbourne, and the Digital Security Lab Ukraine at #WSIS2026 to discuss how to strengthen information ecosystems through digital governance during crises. – July 7 | 14:00 CEST Learn more ▶️ www.itu.int/net4/wsis/fo...
Innovate - discuss - share

Moderator Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi, Director for Division for Digital
Inclusion and Policies and Digital Transformation, UNESCO
Ingrid Volkmer, Professor in the Media and
Communication Program, University of
Melbourne
Charley Lewis, Councilor, Independent
Communications Authority of South Africa 
Guilio Coppi, Senior Humanitarian Officer,
Access Now
Maksym Dvorovyi, Senior Legal Counsel,
Digital Security Lab Ukraine

Join us!

Tuesday, 7 July
14:00 - 14:45 UTC+ 2:00

Room H1, ITU Montbrillant Building
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Martijn Grooten @martijngrooten.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
I don't talk a lot about work here, but I looked into a phishing campaign that targeted a Belarusian opposition politician and then turned out to also impersonate at least three popular Ukrainian portals (it was also my first blog post for Censys) censys.com/blog/unc1151...
censys.com
UNC1151 Phishing Email Targeting Belarusian Politician Points to Multi-National Campaign - Censys
New Censys ARC research discovers that UNC1151's phishing email to a Belarusian politician is linked to a much broader campaign.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 07/06/2026
I am here and Helpline team also. Come meet us, learn about what we do, and take advantage of the advice and services we offer #DRAPAC26
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Access Now @accessnow.org · 04/06/2026
The Human Rights Tech Clinic connects you with global experts to help address evolving digital security and accessibility needs. Visit our booth at #DRAPAC26 for a consultation! June 8 | 11:30 AM–5:30 PM June 9 | 10 AM–4 PM Coordinated by Access Now, Digital Defenders Partnership & Decent Design.
Join us at the Human Rights Tech Clinic
June 8-9 
In-person support and advise

Organized by Access Now, Digital Deferenders Partnership and Decent Design

DRAPAC26
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
I had a fantastic conversation on cybersecurity, AI, privacy, digital trust, cyber resilience, and the evolving threat landscape. We went beyond the headlines to discuss real-world challenges and where technology is heading next. #Cybersecurity #AI #Privacy #InfoSec #SecurityAwareness
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
It’s not clear how effective the hacking campaign has been. @mohdmaskati.bsky.social , the director at @accessnow.org Helpline, told TechCrunch that stealing the victim’s recovery keys for their chat backups is only one step in the attack, and that the hackers still have to take over the account.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
If you missed the webinar hosted by the Helpline @accessnow.org , you can watch it here watch it and then share this
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Reposted by Mohammed Al-Maskati
Just Giulio @giuliowolfe.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Join us ONLINE (May 19th-3pm CEST) to explore digital threats in conflict with @mahsaalimardani.bsky.social ( @witnessorg.bsky.social ), Jocelyn Woolbright ( @cloudflare.social ), Luis Eduardo BARRUETO ( @accessnow.org Digital Security Helpline), and Mia Marzotto ( @oxfaminternational.bsky.social )
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Access Now @accessnow.org · 07/05/2026
Technology can amplify risks for civil society in the context of war and conflict — but centering digital rights can also enhance humanitarian and protection responses. Join our Digital Security Helpline’s webinar on May 19 to learn more 🔽 www.accessnow.org/event/digita...
Digital security in war and conflict: challenges for civil society and tools for resilience. MAY 19, 2026 / 9 AM EST / 3 PM CEST.  Mahsa Alimardani, Associate Director, Technology Threats and Opportunities program, WITNESS. Jocelyn Woolbright, Program Manager, Public Policy Team, Cloudfare. Mia Marzotto, Digital Rights Advocacy Lead, Oxfam. Luis Barrueto, Coordinator, Access Now's Digital Security Helpline. Moderator: Giulio Coppi, Senior Humanitarian Officer, Access Now. accessnow.org/digital-security-webinars
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
I’m excited to be among such wonderful people to discuss "Right Sizing Safeguards." Are we doing enough to protect our stakeholders and organizations? Register and join us : us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... @accessnow.org
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
The Chinese Government Just Got the World’s Largest Digital Rights Conference #rightscon www.wired.com/story/the-ch... @accessnow.org official statement : www.rightscon.org/rc26-stateme...
wired.com
The Chinese Government Just Got the World’s Largest Digital Rights Conference Canceled
Access Now, the group that organizes RightsCon, says Zambian officials asked it to exclude Taiwanese participants if it wanted the event to proceed as planned.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I’ll also be joining a few sessions: • From Virtual Threats to Real-World Impact: Safeguarding Digital Rights — [8 May] • Surveillance as Warfare: Biometric Control, AI Targeting, and Corporate Complicity in Palestine — [8 May] If you’re attending, let’s connect. #accessnow
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
• Please stop by the Helpline Safety Clinic while you’re there — it’s a great space to get support and practical guidance. • If you’re interested in discussing the helpline, security risks, or anything related, feel free to reach out and meet up.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
I’ll be attending #RightsCon this year and would love to connect. 📍 Location: Zambia (see full details: www.rightscon.org)
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Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
NEW @citizenlab.ca report We uncover two sophisticated telecom surveillance campaigns. The findings expose how surveillance vendors exploit the global telecom ecosystem to conduct covert location tracking operations that can persist undetected for years. citizenlab.ca/research/unc...
citizenlab.ca
Bad Connection: Uncovering Global Telecom Exploitation by Covert Surveillance Actors - The Citizen Lab
Our investigation uncovers two sophisticated telecom surveillance campaigns and, for the first time, links real-world attack traffic to mobile operator signalling infrastructure. The findings expose h...
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Zack Whittaker @zackwhittaker.com · 20/04/2026
NEW by me: Cloud app host Vercel says it was hacked & that some customers' data was taken. Vercel blames an earlier breach at Context AI. Hackers allegedly used their access in March to hack a Vercel employee, who had linked a Context AI app to their work account. (*deleted earlier incorrect post)
techcrunch.com
App host Vercel says it was hacked and customer data stolen | TechCrunch
Vercel blamed its breach on an earlier hack at Context AI, which allowed hackers to hijack a Vercel employee's account to steal customer data.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Hack-for-hire group caught targeting Android devices and iCloud backups techcrunch.com/2026/04/08/h... ⁨Mohammed Al-Maskati⁩, director at @accessnow.org’s Helpline who worked on these cases, said that “these operations have become cheaper and it’s possible to evade responsibility" #egypt
techcrunch.com
Hack-for-hire group caught targeting Android devices and iCloud backups | TechCrunch
Security researchers exposed a spying campaign by a hack-for-hire group that used Android spyware and phishing to steal iCloud credentials and hack victims’ devices.
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Mohammed Al-Maskati @mohdmaskati.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
@pressfreedom.bsky.social :Egyptian, Lebanese journalists targeted in cyber attacks: Mohammed Al-Maskati, director of the Helpline at Access Now, told CPJ that while researchers could not technically confirm government involvement, several indicators point in that direction. cpj.org/2026/04/egyp...
cpj.org
Egyptian, Lebanese journalists targeted in cyber attacks  - Committee to Protect Journalists
Washington, D.C., April 8, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by new reports about spear-phishing attacks against several Egyptian and Lebanese journalists aimed at compromising th...
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