A recent report from Amnesty International reveals that a government client of the controversial spyware company Intellexa has successfully hacked the phone of a well-known journalist in Angola. This incident highlights the ongoing issue of powerful surveillance tools being used against members of civil society.
The report, published on Tuesday, details several hacking attempts directed at Teixeira Cândido, a local journalist and advocate for press freedom. During 2024, Cândido received a series of harmful links via WhatsApp, which ultimately led to a breach of his iPhone through Intellexa's spyware, known as Predator.
Amnesty's findings indicate a disturbing trend where government entities are increasingly deploying commercial surveillance technologies to target journalists, political figures, and everyday citizens who express dissent. Previous investigations have uncovered instances of Predator being misused in various countries, including Egypt, Greece, and Vietnam, where it was reportedly used against U.S. officials.
According to the report, Cândido unwittingly clicked on a malicious link, resulting in the infiltration of his device by the spyware. Amnesty researchers traced the intrusion back to Intellexa by analyzing forensic evidence found on his phone, confirming that the spyware utilized infection servers previously associated with the company.
After the hack, Cândido managed to reboot his phone, which removed the spyware, but the exact mechanism of the hack remains unclear, especially since his device was operating on an outdated version of iOS at that time.
Amnesty's investigation suggests that Cândido might not be the only target in Angola, as they discovered multiple domains linked to Intellexa's spyware infrastructure. The organization noted that the first domains associated with Angola appeared as early as March 2023, indicating the initiation of Predator's deployment within the region.
Despite Intellexa's controversial reputation and recent sanctions, the company continues to operate, raising concerns about the potential for further abuses. Amnesty International's security lab head, Donncha Ó Cearbhaill, emphasized that confirmed abuses have been documented in multiple countries, suggesting that many more cases likely remain concealed.
