Illustration by Anders Nienstaedt for MintPress News.

Security researchers at Google have discovered a highly sophisticated spyware specialized in stealing users’ data that appears to have been developed by an Israeli company.

Google said the spyware dubbed “Lipizzan” was developed by Israeli start-up Equus Technologies which claims that it provides “tailor made innovative solutions for law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and national security organizations”.

According to Google:

“Lipizzan is a multi-stage spyware product capable of monitoring and exfiltrating a user’s email, SMS messages, location, voice calls, and media.

We have found 20 Lipizzan apps distributed in a targeted fashion to fewer than 100 devices in total and have blocked the developers and apps from the Android ecosystem.

Google Play Protect has notified all affected devices and removed the Lipizzan apps.”

Forbes magazine which reported the news said it had contacted Equus Technologies through the company’s email address and via LinkedIn for comment on the Google report but it did not receive a reply.

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