Vas Panagiotopoulos
@vaspanagiotopoulos.com
Journalist interested in #surveillance & #pressfreedom | Contributor: @wired.com | @ftm.eu | Covers 🇬🇷 for @rsf.org | Researcher: @deakinuniversity.bsky.social
☏ Signal: vas.99
http://vaspanagiotopoulos.com
☏ Signal: vas.99
http://vaspanagiotopoulos.com
Pinned
ICE Signs $2 Million Contract With Spyware Maker Paragon Solutions
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s one-year contract with Paragon’s US subsidiary comes amid the Biden administration’s years-long crackdown on commercial spyware vendors.
www.wired.com
🇺🇸 Immigration and Customs Enforcement has signed a $2 million contract with 🇮🇱Israeli commercial #spyware vendor Paragon Solutions.
It is unknown whether the contract is for the deployment of Paragon’s flagship product Graphite.
My latest for WIRED. 👇
www.wired.com/story/ice-pa...
It is unknown whether the contract is for the deployment of Paragon’s flagship product Graphite.
My latest for WIRED. 👇
www.wired.com/story/ice-pa...
The 🇺🇸 US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a national alert warning that cyber actors are using sophisticated targeting and social engineering techniques to deliver spyware and gain unauthorised access to victims’ mobile messaging apps.
www.cisa.gov/news-events/...
www.cisa.gov/news-events/...
Spyware Allows Cyber Threat Actors to Target Users of Messaging Applications | CISA
www.cisa.gov
November 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
The 🇺🇸 US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a national alert warning that cyber actors are using sophisticated targeting and social engineering techniques to deliver spyware and gain unauthorised access to victims’ mobile messaging apps.
www.cisa.gov/news-events/...
www.cisa.gov/news-events/...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
The SEC just let SolarWinds off the hook for allegedly hiding vulnerabilities that were exploited in a major 2020 hack: www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Read @kimzetter.bsky.social's deep dive for @wired.com on the SolarWinds breach here: www.wired.com/story/the-un...
Read @kimzetter.bsky.social's deep dive for @wired.com on the SolarWinds breach here: www.wired.com/story/the-un...
The Untold Story of the Boldest Supply-Chain Hack Ever
The attackers were in thousands of corporate and government networks. They might still be there now. Behind the scenes of the SolarWinds investigation.
www.wired.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The SEC just let SolarWinds off the hook for allegedly hiding vulnerabilities that were exploited in a major 2020 hack: www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Read @kimzetter.bsky.social's deep dive for @wired.com on the SolarWinds breach here: www.wired.com/story/the-un...
Read @kimzetter.bsky.social's deep dive for @wired.com on the SolarWinds breach here: www.wired.com/story/the-un...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Top officials at NATO’s procurement agency this year accused its chief of favouritism, failing to investigate corruption, and undue interference in their work, leaked internal reports reveal..
www.ftm.eu/articles/nat...
www.ftm.eu/articles/nat...
NATO’s procurement chief under fire amid corruption scandal, leak reveals
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is mired in a corruption scandal, and top officials have raised concerns about its approach to tackling graft. Internal documents reveal how General Mana...
www.ftm.eu
November 21, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Top officials at NATO’s procurement agency this year accused its chief of favouritism, failing to investigate corruption, and undue interference in their work, leaked internal reports reveal..
www.ftm.eu/articles/nat...
www.ftm.eu/articles/nat...
According to NSO Group, enforcing the injunction would cause irreparable harm to its business and prevent the U.S. government from using its products.
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/nso-group-wh...
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/nso-group-wh...
NSO Group argues WhatsApp injunction threatens existence, future U.S. government work
The spyware vendor made those two arguments, among others, in a motion to stay the California court ruling.
cyberscoop.com
November 20, 2025 at 11:51 PM
According to NSO Group, enforcing the injunction would cause irreparable harm to its business and prevent the U.S. government from using its products.
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/nso-group-wh...
✍️ @timstarks.bsky.social
cyberscoop.com/nso-group-wh...
The 🇬🇧UK and 🇫🇷France are launching this private consultation under the Pall Mall Process on good practice for organisations operating in and around the market for commercial cyber intrusion capabilities.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
UK and France seek views on commercial cyber intrusion industry practices
The UK and France are launching this private consultation under the Pall Mall Process, an international and multistakeholder initiative to stop the threat posed by the proliferation and irresponsible ...
www.gov.uk
November 20, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The 🇬🇧UK and 🇫🇷France are launching this private consultation under the Pall Mall Process on good practice for organisations operating in and around the market for commercial cyber intrusion capabilities.
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
European Commission's Digital Omnibus guts GDPR, delays AI regs at expense of citizens, critics say. Proposal unveiled today contains sweeping changes to landmark European data protection laws. Proposal now heads to legislature for approval - which is far from certain
therecord.media/european-com...
therecord.media/european-com...
European Commission ‘simplification’ proposal would weaken GDPR, AI regulations
Under the proposal, the EU would weaken data protection rules by delaying when regulations governing high-risk AI systems take effect and allowing companies to use personal data for AI training withou...
therecord.media
November 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
European Commission's Digital Omnibus guts GDPR, delays AI regs at expense of citizens, critics say. Proposal unveiled today contains sweeping changes to landmark European data protection laws. Proposal now heads to legislature for approval - which is far from certain
therecord.media/european-com...
therecord.media/european-com...
⚠️ NSO Group Technologies has filed an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit following a judge's ruling that it must pay $4.4 million verdict in #spyware litigation brought by WhatsApp.
www.mlex.com/mlex/data-pr...
www.mlex.com/mlex/data-pr...
NSO appeals $4.4 million verdict in spyware litigation brought by WhatsApp | MLex | Specialist news and analysis on legal risk and regulation
MLex Summary: NSO Group Technologies has filed an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit following a judge's ruling that it must pay $4.4 million to Meta Platforms' WhatsApp for usi...
www.mlex.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:35 AM
⚠️ NSO Group Technologies has filed an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit following a judge's ruling that it must pay $4.4 million verdict in #spyware litigation brought by WhatsApp.
www.mlex.com/mlex/data-pr...
www.mlex.com/mlex/data-pr...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
By plugging tens of billions of phone numbers into WhatsApp’s contact discovery tool, researchers found “the most extensive exposure of phone numbers” ever—along with profile photos and more. www.wired.com/story/a-simp...
A Simple WhatsApp Security Flaw Exposed 3.5 Billion Phone Numbers
By plugging tens of billions of phone numbers into WhatsApp’s contact discovery tool, researchers found “the most extensive exposure of phone numbers” ever—along with profile photos and more.
www.wired.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 PM
By plugging tens of billions of phone numbers into WhatsApp’s contact discovery tool, researchers found “the most extensive exposure of phone numbers” ever—along with profile photos and more. www.wired.com/story/a-simp...
⚠️ During yesterday’s @europarl.europa.eu event hosted by @socialistsanddemocrats.eu MEP @sandroruotolo.bsky.social on #spyware and the European Media Freedom Act, it was announced that a parliamentary #intergroup is currently in the making to continue the work of the 🇪🇺PEGA inquiry committee.
November 18, 2025 at 7:17 AM
⚠️ During yesterday’s @europarl.europa.eu event hosted by @socialistsanddemocrats.eu MEP @sandroruotolo.bsky.social on #spyware and the European Media Freedom Act, it was announced that a parliamentary #intergroup is currently in the making to continue the work of the 🇪🇺PEGA inquiry committee.
Intellexa founder Tal Dilian’s reaction to @nasoskoukakis.bsky.social's testimony in 🇬🇷wiretappings trial:
“It's all nonsense, like reading Harry Potter,” he said, adding during a pause: “I need coffee, to wake up from the fairy tale.” (source @reportersunited.gr)
www.kathimerini.gr/society/dika...
“It's all nonsense, like reading Harry Potter,” he said, adding during a pause: “I need coffee, to wake up from the fairy tale.” (source @reportersunited.gr)
www.kathimerini.gr/society/dika...
Παρακολουθήσεις – Κουκάκης: Από το τέλος Ιουλίου του 2020 είχα δεχθεί το πρώτο επιμολυσμένο μήνυμα
Ο Θανάσης Κουκάκης περιέγραψε πώς χτίστηκε το δίκτυο των παράνομων παρακολουθήσεων στη δίκη που διεξάγεται ενώπιον του Μονομελούς Πλημμελειοδικείου.
www.kathimerini.gr
November 18, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Intellexa founder Tal Dilian’s reaction to @nasoskoukakis.bsky.social's testimony in 🇬🇷wiretappings trial:
“It's all nonsense, like reading Harry Potter,” he said, adding during a pause: “I need coffee, to wake up from the fairy tale.” (source @reportersunited.gr)
www.kathimerini.gr/society/dika...
“It's all nonsense, like reading Harry Potter,” he said, adding during a pause: “I need coffee, to wake up from the fairy tale.” (source @reportersunited.gr)
www.kathimerini.gr/society/dika...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
On Dec 11, tune in for @rondeibert.bsky.social's conversation w/ @signal.org president @meredithmeredith.bsky.social about the critical lessons learned from the Signalgate scandal at @financialtimes.com #FTGlobalBoardroom conference.
Learn more: globalboardroom.ft.com/agenda/sessi...
Learn more: globalboardroom.ft.com/agenda/sessi...
November 17, 2025 at 10:19 PM
On Dec 11, tune in for @rondeibert.bsky.social's conversation w/ @signal.org president @meredithmeredith.bsky.social about the critical lessons learned from the Signalgate scandal at @financialtimes.com #FTGlobalBoardroom conference.
Learn more: globalboardroom.ft.com/agenda/sessi...
Learn more: globalboardroom.ft.com/agenda/sessi...
New @epic.org report offers a primer on government surveillance through #spyware, outlining current legal accountability mechanisms and highlighting where future improvements are needed.
epic.org/documents/th...
epic.org/documents/th...
The Fight for Our Phones: A Multi-Prong Approach to Spyware Reform
<p>The Fight for Our Phones shines a light on the threats posed by the remote deployment of spyware by government actors, without user knowledge, to facilitate complete access to and control of an inf...
epic.org
November 17, 2025 at 2:53 PM
New @epic.org report offers a primer on government surveillance through #spyware, outlining current legal accountability mechanisms and highlighting where future improvements are needed.
epic.org/documents/th...
epic.org/documents/th...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
🚨SCOOP 🚨The Pentagon is spending millions on a secretive startup that’s making hacking AI to help carry out operations on hundreds of targets at once.
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
The Pentagon Is Spending Millions On AI Hacking From Startup Twenty
The U.S. government has been contracting stealth startup Twenty, which is working on AI agents and automated hacking of foreign targets at massive scale.
www.forbes.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:14 PM
🚨SCOOP 🚨The Pentagon is spending millions on a secretive startup that’s making hacking AI to help carry out operations on hundreds of targets at once.
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
In-q-tel, the VC org founded by the CIA, is a backer of the startup, called Twenty.
www.forbes.com/sites/thomas...
🇬🇷Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) informed the country’s top court that it could not locate its own internal documents from 2020 ordering the surveillance of @nasoskoukakis.bsky.social.
www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...
www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...
Greek Council of State Probes Missing Surveillance Files in Expanding Surveillance Scandal - Dnews
EYP informed the court that it could not locate the agency’s 2020 surveillance requests. A few months after Greece’s Council of State issued a landmark ruling in favor of PASOK leader Nikos Androulaki...
www.dnews.gr
November 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
🇬🇷Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP) informed the country’s top court that it could not locate its own internal documents from 2020 ordering the surveillance of @nasoskoukakis.bsky.social.
www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...
www.dnews.gr/eidhseis/new...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Fantastic News! 📢
U.S. court rejects all of NSO's objections to permanent injunction!
The ruling bans NSO from accessing WhatsApp platform & orders NSO to delete all technologies that use, access, or depend on WhatsApp.
This basically outlaws Pegasus in its current form🚫
U.S. court rejects all of NSO's objections to permanent injunction!
The ruling bans NSO from accessing WhatsApp platform & orders NSO to delete all technologies that use, access, or depend on WhatsApp.
This basically outlaws Pegasus in its current form🚫
November 12, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Fantastic News! 📢
U.S. court rejects all of NSO's objections to permanent injunction!
The ruling bans NSO from accessing WhatsApp platform & orders NSO to delete all technologies that use, access, or depend on WhatsApp.
This basically outlaws Pegasus in its current form🚫
U.S. court rejects all of NSO's objections to permanent injunction!
The ruling bans NSO from accessing WhatsApp platform & orders NSO to delete all technologies that use, access, or depend on WhatsApp.
This basically outlaws Pegasus in its current form🚫
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Former Trump official appointed exec chairman of spyware company NSO Group. David Friedman previously served as Trump's ambassador to Israel + before that was a bankruptcy lawyer for the president. NSO was recently acquired by investors led by a Hollywood producer therecord.media/former-trump...
Former Trump official named NSO Group executive chairman
NSO Group announced Friedman’s appointment on Sunday, saying that NSO’s three founders no longer have any stake in the firm.
therecord.media
November 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Former Trump official appointed exec chairman of spyware company NSO Group. David Friedman previously served as Trump's ambassador to Israel + before that was a bankruptcy lawyer for the president. NSO was recently acquired by investors led by a Hollywood producer therecord.media/former-trump...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
We asked David Friedman, the former US ambassador to Israel, who has been named exec chairman of the NSO Group holding company, whether he would try to get sanctions on NSO lifted. He said: “I hope that will be accomplished, but we haven’t made that request yet”. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tech giants vow to defend users in US as spyware companies make inroads with Trump administration
Apple and WhatsApp say they’ll keep warning users if their phones are targeted by governments using hacking software against them
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:22 PM
We asked David Friedman, the former US ambassador to Israel, who has been named exec chairman of the NSO Group holding company, whether he would try to get sanctions on NSO lifted. He said: “I hope that will be accomplished, but we haven’t made that request yet”. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
UPDATE: NSO just hired former Trump ambassador to Israel.
They're trying to push Pegasus spyware to 🇺🇸America.
Your rights and freedoms are in danger.
NSO Group is no friend to the US & has spent years undermining our security & values 1/
They're trying to push Pegasus spyware to 🇺🇸America.
Your rights and freedoms are in danger.
NSO Group is no friend to the US & has spent years undermining our security & values 1/
November 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
UPDATE: NSO just hired former Trump ambassador to Israel.
They're trying to push Pegasus spyware to 🇺🇸America.
Your rights and freedoms are in danger.
NSO Group is no friend to the US & has spent years undermining our security & values 1/
They're trying to push Pegasus spyware to 🇺🇸America.
Your rights and freedoms are in danger.
NSO Group is no friend to the US & has spent years undermining our security & values 1/
⚠️ David Friedman, Trump's former ambassador to Israel and one of the key architects of the Abraham Accords, has been appointed head of #spyware vendor NSO Group.
www.themarker.com/technation/2...
www.themarker.com/technation/2...
שגריר ארה"ב לשעבר דיוויד פרידמן מונה ליו"ר NSO, שעוברת לבעלות אמריקאית
המהלך מגיע לאחר חודשים של מאמצים לבטל את הסנקציות מארה"ב על החברה, ואחרי שפאראגון, המתחרה הגדולה, עברה גם היא לבעלות אמריקאית ■ לא ברור מי הבעלים החדשים, איך ניירת חושפת כי עו"ד שייצג בעבר את שר המשפט...
www.themarker.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:47 PM
⚠️ David Friedman, Trump's former ambassador to Israel and one of the key architects of the Abraham Accords, has been appointed head of #spyware vendor NSO Group.
www.themarker.com/technation/2...
www.themarker.com/technation/2...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
YIKES: NSO floats Pegasus spyware used in hypothetical "time of domestic crisis" in 🇺🇸America.
I believe they won't stop lobbying until they get Pegasus into USA.
To hack Americans. 1/
I believe they won't stop lobbying until they get Pegasus into USA.
To hack Americans. 1/
November 7, 2025 at 8:36 PM
YIKES: NSO floats Pegasus spyware used in hypothetical "time of domestic crisis" in 🇺🇸America.
I believe they won't stop lobbying until they get Pegasus into USA.
To hack Americans. 1/
I believe they won't stop lobbying until they get Pegasus into USA.
To hack Americans. 1/
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
Security researchers on Friday revealed the discovery of “commercial grade” spyware used in a 9-month-long hacking campaign aimed at Samsung Galaxy phones likely concentrated in the Middle East.
therecord.media/landfall-spy...
therecord.media/landfall-spy...
Newly identified Android spyware appears to be from a commercial vendor
Researchers spotted a 9-month-long campaign involving previously undiscovered spyware they call LANDFALL, which leveraged a zero-day bug in Samsung Galaxy phones.
therecord.media
November 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Security researchers on Friday revealed the discovery of “commercial grade” spyware used in a 9-month-long hacking campaign aimed at Samsung Galaxy phones likely concentrated in the Middle East.
therecord.media/landfall-spy...
therecord.media/landfall-spy...
The revelation that Francesco Nicodemo was targeted with Paragon #spyware widens the scope — once again — of the ongoing spyware scandal in 🇮🇹Italy, writes @lorenzofb.bsky.social.
techcrunch.com/2025/11/06/i...
techcrunch.com/2025/11/06/i...
Italian political consultant says he was targeted with Paragon spyware | TechCrunch
WhatsApp notified the consultant, who works for left-wing politicians, that his phone was targeted with spyware made by Paragon.
techcrunch.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:01 PM
The revelation that Francesco Nicodemo was targeted with Paragon #spyware widens the scope — once again — of the ongoing spyware scandal in 🇮🇹Italy, writes @lorenzofb.bsky.social.
techcrunch.com/2025/11/06/i...
techcrunch.com/2025/11/06/i...
Reposted by Vas Panagiotopoulos
This is a very good point. And the answer lies in the licenses that spyware makers give their customers. In this case, "licenses" means the number of concurrent targets customers could use.
For example, these were the no. of targets Hacking Team gave its customers (note Morocco):
For example, these were the no. of targets Hacking Team gave its customers (note Morocco):
November 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
This is a very good point. And the answer lies in the licenses that spyware makers give their customers. In this case, "licenses" means the number of concurrent targets customers could use.
For example, these were the no. of targets Hacking Team gave its customers (note Morocco):
For example, these were the no. of targets Hacking Team gave its customers (note Morocco):
Another person spied on in Italy’s Paragon scandal: Francesco Nicodemo, former head of communications for the 🇮🇹Democratic Party under Matteo Renzi.
www.fanpage.it/politica/un-...
www.fanpage.it/politica/un-...
www.fanpage.it
November 6, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Another person spied on in Italy’s Paragon scandal: Francesco Nicodemo, former head of communications for the 🇮🇹Democratic Party under Matteo Renzi.
www.fanpage.it/politica/un-...
www.fanpage.it/politica/un-...
⚠️ @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social promises to submit a list of #spyware companies that received 🇪🇺EU funding following our @ftm.eu investigation.
💡All applications, she said, are reviewed by a “multidisciplinary team of ethical experts.”
🎥 WATCH: youtu.be/SjSndVxMNXU?...
Q: @danielfreund.bsky.social
💡All applications, she said, are reviewed by a “multidisciplinary team of ethical experts.”
🎥 WATCH: youtu.be/SjSndVxMNXU?...
Q: @danielfreund.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:17 PM
⚠️ @hennavirkkunen.bsky.social promises to submit a list of #spyware companies that received 🇪🇺EU funding following our @ftm.eu investigation.
💡All applications, she said, are reviewed by a “multidisciplinary team of ethical experts.”
🎥 WATCH: youtu.be/SjSndVxMNXU?...
Q: @danielfreund.bsky.social
💡All applications, she said, are reviewed by a “multidisciplinary team of ethical experts.”
🎥 WATCH: youtu.be/SjSndVxMNXU?...
Q: @danielfreund.bsky.social