Predator Spyware Found on Angolan Journalist’s iPhone, Government Allegedly Involved

Staff Report: PNN

International human rights organization Amnesty International has claimed that a government client of the banned spyware maker Intellexa deployed surveillance software on the phone of a prominent Angolan journalist.

According to a recent report published by the organization, in 2024, local journalist and media freedom activist Teixeira Candido received multiple malicious links via WhatsApp. One of these links, when clicked, installed spyware named “Predator” on his iPhone.

Forensic analysis revealed traces on the infected phone matching Intellexa’s spyware infrastructure. The report stated that the servers used for the hacking had previously been associated with Intellexa’s operations.

Once the “Predator” spyware was installed, it disguised itself as a normal iOS system process and operated covertly to avoid detection. However, a few hours after clicking the link, when the journalist restarted his phone, the spyware was removed.

Amnesty identified several other domains in Angola connected to the same spyware infrastructure. They suggested that Candido might not have been the only target, indicating a potentially widespread surveillance effort in the country.

The report did not confirm any specific government agency as responsible for the attack. Researchers noted that “Predator” spyware had been used in Angola experimentally or actively since March 2023.

Intellexa has gained notoriety in recent years, and the U.S. government imposed sanctions on the company in 2024, targeting its founder Tal Dilian and several senior executives. Allegations indicate that the company circumvented export restrictions and operated through complex corporate structures in multiple countries.

Doncha O’Carevile, head of Amnesty’s security lab, stated that similar misuse has been found in countries such as Egypt, Pakistan, and Greece. He emphasized that many surveillance activities likely remain invisible.

Human rights activists worry that commercial surveillance technology is increasingly becoming a powerful tool in the hands of governments, which could be used to exert pressure on journalists, political activists, and dissenting voices.