The spyware business is booming despite government crackdowns

Google's Threat Analysis Group and other researchers report a growing commercial spyware economy in which dozens of vendors and exploit suppliers use multi-zero-day exploit chains to deploy sophisticated spyware against journalists, activists and dissidents; the TAG report found 25 zero-days in 2023 (20 abused by commercial surveillance vendors), highlights opaque pricing and supply chains, and warns that lack of shared samples and indicators increases risk to targeted individuals and the broader internet ecosystem.