ICE obtains access to Israeli-made spyware that can hack phones and encrypted apps

[WhiskeyGrinder]

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/02/trump-immigration-ice-israeli-spyware

US immigration agents will have access to one of the world’s most sophisticated hacking tools after a decision by the Trump administration to move ahead with a contract with Paragon Solutions, a company founded in Israel which makes spyware that can be used to hack into any mobile phone – including encrypted applications.

The Department of Homeland Security first entered into a contract with Paragon, now owned by a US firm, in late 2024, under the Biden administration. But the $2m contract was put on hold pending a compliance review to make sure it adhered to an executive order that restricts the US government’s use of spyware, Wired reported at the time.

That pause has now been lifted, according to public procurement documents, which list US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) as the contracting agency.

It means that one of the most powerful stealth cyberweapons ever created – which was produced outside the US – is now in the hands of an agency that has repeatedly been accused by civil and human rights groups of violating people’s due process rights.

[walkingman]

1. Ethics is not a word that is known to the US government. Not sure it ever was.

[J_William_Ryan]

2. "...one of the most powerful stealth cyberweapons ever created..."

Is in the hands of the fascist Trump regime that has in fact violated people’s due process rights.

[Qutzupalotl]

3. According to Ronan Farrow, a good defense is

to restart your phone every day. That breaks the connection, which I gather takes some time to set up.

[ret5hd]

4. my initial suggested tactic:

flood the air with bullshit. off the top of my head, simple stuff…”migrants hiding at xxx”

but really, some people will need to learn real electronic security…two phones (one never on in the same location as the other or at home, etc)

the MOST effective tactics though (imo) will be wasting their time…never ID, keep them occupied on those of us who are citizens and in no real danger, using bullhorns to warn the vulnerable, etc. yeah, that means risking detention and arrest (minor inconveniences compared to deportation). make every encounter take as much time and resources as possible.