Forget Pegasus, new Android spyware ‘Hermit’ now being used by govts

Cyber-security researchers have unearthed a new enterprise-grade Android spyware called ‘Hermit’ that is being used by the governments via SMS messages to target high-profile people like business executives, human rights activists, journalists, academics and government officials.

The team at cyber-security company Lookout Threat Lab uncovered the ‘surveillanceware’ that was used by the government of Kazakhstan in April, four months after nationwide protests against government policies were violently suppressed.

“Based on our analysis, the spyware, which we named ‘Hermit’ is likely developed by Italian spyware vendor RCS Lab and Tykelab Srl, a telecommunications solutions company we suspect to be operating as a front company,” the researchers said in a blog post.