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Vas Panagiotopoulos

@vaspanagiotopoulos.com
1.9K followers 447 following 854 posts

Journalist interested in #surveillance | Contributor: @wired.com | @ftm.eu | Covers 🇬🇷 for @rsf.org | Researcher: @deakinuniversity.bsky.social | 2026 Fellow @techpolicypress.bsky.social ☏ Signal: vas.99 vaspanagiotopoulos.com

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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
evacide @evacide.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Android has rolled out some new features for Advanced Protection, including intrusion logging, which is especially useful for survivors because nearly all commercially-available Android stalkerware is installed by a person with physical access logging in: blog.google/security/and...
blog.google
6 ways Advanced Protection on Android keeps you safe
Discover new Advanced Protection features on Android designed to defend against sophisticated threats and keep your data safe.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
⚠️ Boyd wouldn't confirm to @kimzetter.bsky.social how many products the combined companies possess: "together they now have between five and 10." ➡️ However, REDLattice's Investor Presentation (SEC filing from Sept 29) DOES list specifically 8 products:
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
Full SEC filing here: www.sec.gov/Archives/edg...
sec.gov
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
‼️💰Finally the transaction foresees a "cash earnout to Paragon" of $119 million.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
Apparently the largest contract in the company's history was signed this year: "In Q2, REDLattice signed a new EMEA customer with an annual contract value of approximately $26m covering 3 products."
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
REDLattice/Paragon state that they currently serve 23 countries around the 🌍 world – a number, they claim, could increase to 35.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
💡 ➡️ REDLattice also boasts that: "Functionality is **not** impacted by device reboots or device OS upgrades." ➡️ Also: "EXCLUDES all 🇺🇸US mobile devices"
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
Some more examples: ➡️ PRODUCT CHARLIE "Stealthy, zero-interaction intelligence collection from mobile devices including E2EE messaging" ➡️ PRODUCT BRAVO "Purpose-built mobile intelligence platform for close-access reconnaissance and data collection"
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
PRODUCT ALPHA "uses AI to maintain and develop new access vectors." "Remote, zero-interaction, agentless mobile data acquisition software for at-the-edge tactical access" ⁉️(Could this be Graphite? Paragon's flagship product)
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
⚠️ Boyd wouldn't confirm to @kimzetter.bsky.social how many products the combined companies possess: "together they now have between five and 10." ➡️ However, REDLattice's Investor Presentation (SEC filing from Sept 29) DOES list specifically 8 products:
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
👀 Fascinating to read the Paragon Solutions (US) CEO’s interview in @wired.com. We know so much more about the #spyware vendor today than we did when I first uncovered its $2m contract with 🇺🇸ICE back in 2024.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai @lorenzofb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
NEW: An iPhone hacking company claims it can freeze the iPhone in a state that makes it easier for cops to access data. The iPhone has an automatic reboot feature that reverts the device to a state where data is harder to extract. This would defeat that feature. www.404media.co/cops-can-byp...
404media.co
Cops Can Bypass iPhone’s Automatic Reboot to Get Into Locked Phones, Leaked Video Claims
Magent Forensics, the owner of the GrayKey phone unlocking tool, says it can bypass an iPhone rebooting feature that was locking cops out.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
Full report here: www.amnesty.org/en/wp-conten...
amnesty.org
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
"Phone calls are routinely intercepted. Location data is tracked, exposing the daily movements of activists.. Safir described how phone shops were co-opted to sell mobile phones pre-infected with spyware by DGST agents & how neighbours of targeted human rights defenders are recruited as informants."
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
Drawing on this evidence, the organisation documents not only the range of tools and techniques used to target dissent, but the web of international vendors providing them.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
🇲🇦Morocco has repeatedly denied using spyware to spy on its citizens. However, new evidence obtained by @amnesty.org incl. whistleblower testimony, leaked surveillance data, govt #spyware targeting records and material from companies selling surveillance tools proves the opposite.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
Journalists and other members of El Faro intend to appeal:  knightcolumbia.org/content/cour...
knightcolumbia.org
Court Dismisses Journalists’ Case Against Spyware Manufacturer NSO Group
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 01/10/2026
A federal judge dismissed a case brought by a group of Salvadoran investigative journalists on Wednesday who claim they were the targets of spyware attacks from NSO Group, finding they didn’t prove California was the right venue for their suit. www.courthousenews.com/judge-tosses...
courthousenews.com
Judge tosses Salvadoran journalists’ suit against Israeli spyware supplier
"None of this has anything to do with California," a federal judge said of the journalists’ claims.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Ron Deibert @rondeibert.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Journalist and former MEP Stelios Kouloglou has filed a lawsuit against the Israeli executives of NSO Group, the manufacturer of Pegasus spyware. In July, @citizenlab.ca discovered Stelios' phone had been hacked with Pegasus spyware citizenlab.ca/research/mem... www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/pol...
dnews.gr
Νέα διάσταση στις υποκλοπές: Μήνυση Κούλογλου σε βάρος των Ισραηλινών υπευθύνων για το Pegasus - Dnews
Νέα τροπή στην υπόθεση των τηλεφωνικών υποκλοπών δίνει η μήνυση του Στέλιου Κούλογλου κατά των υπευθύνων της ισραηλινής εταιρείας NSO Group για την παρακολούθησή του με το κατασκοπευτικό λογισμικό Peg...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 28/09/2026
“In recent weeks, more and more investors at leading 🇺🇸US venture capital funds have been approached.”
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 28/09/2026
Paragon CEO Idan Nurik is planning a new AI/cyber company after leaving the #spyware firm. He is expected to be joined by Ehud Schneorson. The venture has already attracted preliminary investment commitments from Sequoia & former NBA player Omri Casspi’s Swish fund. www.globes.co.il/news/article...
globes.co.il
השותפים לשעבר של אהוד ברק בדרך להקמת חברת סייבר חדשה | בלעדי
גלובס
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 28/09/2026
cc: @zackwhittaker.com @josephcox.bsky.social @evacide.bsky.social
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 28/09/2026
⚠️ Israeli spyware maker Paragon Solutions announced Monday that it will go public through a merger with a Nasdaq-listed SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) at a pre-money enterprise value of $1.25 billion. www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/ar...
calcalistech.com
Israeli cyber company Paragon to go public through Nasdaq SPAC merger at $1.25 billion valuation | CTech
The company and U.S. partner REDLattice generated $267 million in combined revenue over the past year, up 29%.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Antoaneta Roussi @antoanetaroussi.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
NEW: Oxygen Forensics, accused of being secretly run from Russia by the U.S. DOJ, has worked on Commission-backed projects and sold its services to European law enforcement agencies. www.politico.eu/article/russ...
politico.eu
Russian tech surveillance company infiltrated Europe’s law enforcement agencies
The same technology used by Western police was allegedly being developed in Russia and sold to Russian security services.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 28/09/2026
Fmr MEP Stelios Kouloglou has filed a criminal complaint vs NSO Group over the use of #Pegasus against him. Filed w. the Athens Prosecutor’s Office, it alleges breach of communications privacy, unlawful access to information systems & violations of data protection law. www.news247.gr/ellada/ipokl...
news247.gr
Υποκλοπές: Μήνυση του Στέλιου Κούλογλου για το λογισμικό Pegasus
Νέα μήνυση για το σκάνδαλο των υποκλοπών κατέθεσε ο Στέλιος Κούλογλου, στρεφόμενος αυτή τη φορά κατά της NSO για παρακολούθηση του κινητού του μέσω του λογισμικού Pegasus.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Natalia Krapiva 🕊️👩🏻‍💻 @natynettle.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
🚨 BREAKING: U.S. DOJ arrested the CEO of Oxygen Forensics, Lee Reiber, for concealing the company's Russian ownership. Civil society, including First Department, @olgalautman.bsky.social, & myself, have been sounding alarms for years about this company! 1/ www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr...
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Raphael Satter @raphae.li · 23/09/2026
Scoop: Data allegedly stolen from the FBI provides sensitive assignment descriptions for named employees, exposing members of the "China criminal enterprise unit” & “Russia Operations Section" among others. One ex-employee described it as a foreign intel "goldmine." www.reuters.com/world/hacked...
reuters.com
EXCLUSIVE: Hacked FBI data has sensitive information about employees’ intelligence roles
FBI data allegedly stolen by the hacking group ShinyHunters carries granular detail about scores of bureau officials’ job assignments, including sensitive work ‌against Chinese spies, Russian intellig...
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
evacide @evacide.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
German agencies use the linked-device features in WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to receive messages without breaking encryption. cybernews.com/privacy/poli...
cybernews.com
German police read WhatsApp messages without cracking encryption
45 days of Signal history may be exposed by German police messaging surveillance using linked devices, Netzpolitik says. Read what the documents reveal
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 23/09/2026
In English: irpimedia.irpi.eu/en-inside-th...
irpimedia.irpi.eu
Inside the secretive cyberweapons company that won over Israel’s intelligence elite
The system was being used without an adequate legal basis, in violation of privacy rules. Unpublished documents show that in May 2025, Italy’s Data Protection Authority asked the Interior Ministry to ...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 23/09/2026
Dataflow calls itself an “ethical” provider operating only in democracies. But once an exploit is sold, experts say, its developer has almost no control over how it is used.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 23/09/2026
According to the piece, the company has also forged close ties with Israel, including former senior Mossad, military and intelligence officials, and ex-NSO Group employees.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 23/09/2026
🇮🇹New @irpimedia.eu investigation: Dataflow Security, founded by hacker Luca Todesco, develops exploits targeting computers and smartphones – and has generated nearly €63m in three years, mostly from outside the EU. irpimedia.irpi.eu/dataflow-cyb...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 21/09/2026
All the best, Lorenzo!!! ✊Massively looking forward to the book!!!
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 18/09/2026
🇨🇾Cyprus: The anti-corruption authority is reportedly preparing to launch a renewed investigation into the black surveillance van case, examining aspects of the affair not covered by the original criminal inquiry. cyprus-mail.com/2026/09/17/a...
cyprus-mail.com
Anti-corruption authority reportedly preparing to reopen black van case
The anti-corruption authority is reportedly preparing to launch a renewed investigation into the black surveillance van case, examining aspects of the affair not covered by the original criminal inqui...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 18/09/2026
A joint statement from civil society argues that the forthcoming Pall Mall Industry Guidelines on Commercial Cyber Intrusion Capabilities must establish enforceable expectations for governments & companies & significantly raise the bar on existing industry practices. freedomhouse.org/article/25-c...
freedomhouse.org
25+ Civil Society Organizations Call for Strong Human Rights and Accountability Safeguards for Commercial Cyber Intrusion Industry
Essential elements for ensuring the industry guidelines for commercial cyber intrusion capabilities deliver on their potential.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 14/09/2026
🇨🇾 Cyprus: The Attorney General has killed off an investigation into the “black van” surveillance scandal, the Anti-Corruption Authority says - because he refused to approve it. www.philenews.com/kipros/koino...
philenews.com
Υπόθεση «μαύρου βαν»: Τερμάτισε την έρευνα ο Γενικός Εισαγγελέας
Τερμάτισε εν τη γενέσει της την έρευνα για το «μαύρο βαν» και τις παρακολουθήσεις ο Γενικός Εισαγγελέας. Αυτό αναφέρει με ανακοίνωσή της η Ανεξάρτητη Αρχή
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 13/09/2026
🇨🇾 In Cyprus, Transparency Commissioner Harris Poyiadjis, who heads the anti-corruption authority, told the parliamentary institutions committee that they plan to release a statement on Monday regarding the case of the so-called “black van”. (WiSpear/Tal Dilian) ua.news/en/world/kom...
ua.news
Cyprus commissioner to issue statement on ‘black van’ case
Cyprus’s transparency commissioner said a statement on the “black van” case is planned for Monday, following an MP’s inquiry.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 11/09/2026
Three 🇺🇸U.S. lawmakers have called on the American government to blacklist a set of 🇮🇳Indian IT firms over what they describe as “more than ​fifteen years of targeted espionage against U.S. citizens, businesses, and the ‌lawyers representing them." www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
reuters.com
US lawmakers call on American government to blacklist three Indian hack-for-hire firms
Three U.S. lawmakers have called on the American government to blacklist a set of Indian IT firms over what they describe as “more than ​fifteen years of targeted espionage against U.S. citizens, busi...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 10/09/2026
📈 Investors should screen commercial #spyware companies from their investment universe, and require fund managers to identify & prevent exposure across investment chains, writes @business-humanrights.org’s Meredith Veit. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/s...
theguardian.com
Spyware can easily fall into the wrong hands – investors should take note | Letter
Letters: The reported targeting of student activists in Serbia is an example of increased misuse, with serious consequences for the commercial spyware industry
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 09/09/2026
“Apple sent notifications to phones belonging to at least three 🇹🇷Turkish ministers warning that they may have been targeted in mercenary #spyware attacks.” www.middleeasteye.net/news/suspect...
middleeasteye.net
Suspected spyware attacks target Turkish ministers’ phones
Ankara believes the attempts were unsuccessful, citing enhanced security measures and encrypted applications
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Saskia Bricmont @saskiabricmont.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Le gouvernement de Vučić utilise l'appareil sécuritaire de la #Serbie comme arme contre des étudiants pacifiques et l'opposition! Avec mes collègues députés européens issus de cinq groupes politiques, nous exigeons que l'UE prenne des mesures face à l'utilisation de #logiciels espions.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
The Citizen Lab @citizenlab.ca · 02/09/2026
1/ NEW: an investigation by our collaborator SHARE Foundation reveals widespread spyware targeting Serbia's pro-democracy student movement. The Citizen Lab confirms that an iPhone belonging to a student was infected with Pegasus spyware. Read more: sharefoundation.info/en/share-fou...
sharefoundation.info
SHARE Foundation: Students and Opposition Politicians Targeted by Spyware - SHARE Fondacija
The SHARE Foundation has confirmed that at least 14 people in Serbia were targeted with advanced spyware since at the beginning of 2026 – the largest documented wave of such surveillance in the countr...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 02/09/2026
🇬🇷Greece’s wiretapping scandal took a new turn on Tuesday after an active high-ranking officer in the country’s intelligence service EYP filed criminal charges against four business executives linked to the #spyware developer Intellexa for espionage. www.ekathimerini.com/news/1313941...
ekathimerini.com
High-ranking spy agency officer targets Intellexa execs over illegal wiretapping | eKathimerini.com
Greece’s wiretapping scandal took a new turn on Tuesday after an active high-ranking officer in the country’s intelligence service EYP filed criminal charges against four business executives linked to...
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 28/08/2026
🇬🇧Supreme Court has opened the door for victims of spyware & other digital transnational repression to sue foreign states—a meaningful victory for individuals & orgs fighting abuse of these technologies. ✍️ @sanstis.bsky.social @natynettle.bsky.social & Kate Pundyk www.lawfaremedia.org/article/u.k....
lawfaremedia.org
U.K. Supreme Court Opens Door for Spyware Victims to Sue Foreign States
The Kingdom of Bahrain cannot claim immunity from a suit by exiled dissidents over harm caused by spyware surveillance on U.K. soil.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 27/08/2026
@nasoskoukakis.bsky.social has taken his surveillance case to the ⚖️ @echr.coe.int alleging that 🇬🇷authorities failed to conduct an independent, impartial & effective investigation into his monitoring by the country’s intelligence service & through the Predator #spyware. www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...
dnews.gr
Greek Predator Spyware Case Moves to European Human-Rights Court - Dnews
Koukakis, a financial and investigative journalist, was subjected to two forms of surveillance: monitoring by Greece’s National Intelligence Service and a separate infection of his mobile phone with P...
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Alexander Martin @alexmartin.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
New: The British government is seeking new powers that would allow it to ban technology vendors on national security grounds from supplying companies working in the country’s critical sectors — potentially doing so in secret.
therecord.media
UK government seeks powers to secretly block risky tech suppliers
The British government is seeking new powers to ban certain technology vendors from supplying companies working in the country’s critical sectors — potentially doing so in secret.
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai @lorenzofb.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
NEW: Sen. Ron Wyden is asking a U.S. government watchdog to review how federal law enforcement agencies are using hacking tools and spyware in their investigations. Wyden is worried about federal agents abusing them, the risk of dangerous leaks like the Peter Williams/Trenchant case, and more.
techcrunch.com
Senator asks US government watchdog to review how feds use hacking tools | TechCrunch
Senator Ron Wyden sent a letter to the U.S. federal watchdog requesting a comprehensive review of how the FBI, DEA, ICE's HSI, and the Secret Service use hacking tools and spyware against Americans.
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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 20/08/2026
REDLattice, the Chantilly-based spyware/cyber-intelligence firm that now owns Paragon Solutions, was reportedly among recipients of a five-year 🇺🇸US Navy contract worth up to $400m (via Jack Poulson). substack.com/@jackpoulson...
substack.com
Jack Poulson (@jackpoulson)
The current owner of the original Paragon Solutions Graphite team, the Chantilly-based spyware / cyber intelligence company REDLattice, last week was one of numerous recipients of a five year, potenti...
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Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai @lorenzofb.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
NEW: An "unprecedented" number of people have received Apple's latest notifications alerting them they were targeted with mercenary spyware, according to security researchers. A soldier fighting in Ukraine told us he knows of other soldiers getting them. Lots of posts on social media too.
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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Vas Panagiotopoulos @vaspanagiotopoulos.com · 14/08/2026
Starting in 2029, 🇺🇸US judiciary will publicly disclose precisely how many times judges authorized the use of wiretaps to be carried out with hacking tools & #spyware, which fall under the category of what the feds call network investigating techniques, or NITs. techcrunch.com/2026/08/14/u...
techcrunch.com
US courts will start publishing how often the government uses spyware | TechCrunch
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts told TechCrunch that it will start disclosing how many times judges authorized the use of spyware to wiretap suspected criminals.
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