During recent years investigative journalists and cybersecurity researchers have revealed several Israeli companies that have produced and sold spyware or conducted hacking, disinformation or other kind of political operations. Owners and employees of those Israeli companies have been usually former Israeli intelligence officers. Here are some of those companies and their activities.

The most recent revelations are regarding “Team Jorge”, a unit lead by former Israeli special forces operative Tal Hanan alias “Jorge”. The team seems to have been operating under the radar in elections in various countries over two decades. Here is more information about “Team Jorge”:

https://forbiddenstories.org/story-killers/team-jorge-disinformation/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/15/revealed-disinformation-team-jorge-claim-meddling-elections-tal-hanan

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-operatives-manipulating-elections-investigation

https://www.timesofisrael.com/expose-unmasks-israel-led-disinformation-team-that-meddled-in-dozens-of-elections/

Israeli company NSO Group and its spyware Pegasus made headlines when it was revealed that the spyware was used not only to spy on journalists and political activists but also political leaders such as French president Emmanuel Macron. According to media reports, even FBI purchased this spyware and considered using it. Here is more information about Pegasus:

https://forbiddenstories.org/case/the-pegasus-project/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/8/what-you-need-to-know-about-israeli-spyware-pegasus

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2021/07/world-leaders-potential-targets-of-nso-group-pegasus-spyware/

https://www.pcmag.com/news/fbi-almost-deployed-pegasus-spyware-in-investigations

Another US agency, Drug Enforcement Administration DEA has been using another Israeli spyware called Graphite, made by Israeli company Paragon. Here is more information about Graphite:

https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-724399

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/israeli-led-spyware-industry-further-exposed-becoming-unruly

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/technology/us-governments-purchase-use-of-israeli-spyware-to-be-investi

Cybersecurity researchers at the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab revealed that spyware made by Israeli company Candiru has been used to spy on journalists, political activists and dissidents. Here is more information about Candiru:

https://citizenlab.ca/2021/07/hooking-candiru-another-mercenary-spyware-vendor-comes-into-focus/

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2021/7/15/citizen-lab-spyware-by-israels-candiru-used-to-target-activists

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/chrome-zero-day-used-to-infect-journalists-with-candiru-spyware/

https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-chrome-zero-day-exploit-delivered-spyware-to-journalists

Former Israeli military intelligence general Tal Dilian and his companies WiSpear/Passitora, Cytrox and Intellexa have caused controversy in Cyprus and Greece because of their questionable activities. In 2019, Dilian was connected to “spy van scandal” in Cyprus. Intellexa’s spyware Predator is connected to scandal dubbed as “Greek Watergate” – Predator has been used to spy on prominent politicians, businesspeople and journalists. Here is more information about Tal Dilian’s activities and Predator:

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/11/01/meps-in-cyprus-on-predator-spying-mission/

https://cyprus-mail.com/2022/08/11/government-response-to-spy-van-affair-is-unsatisfactory/

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/news/local/how-the-spyware-scandal-in-greece-is-related-to-cyprus/

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/technology/predator-another-israeli-spyware-used-to-hack-greek-official

https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/greece-in-a-pickle-over-predator-use-seeks-us-judicial-coope