U.S. Cracks Down on Predatory Spyware Firm for Targeting Officials and Journalists

The U.S. Treasury (OFAC) sanctioned two individuals and five companies linked to the Intellexa Alliance for creating and distributing Predator, a mercenary commercial spyware comparable to NSO Group’s Pegasus; Predator can perform zero-click infections on Android and iOS, harvest contacts, call logs, messages, microphone recordings, and media, and has been reportedly used against U.S. officials, journalists, and policy experts. The designations follow prior blacklisting actions, reporting about Predator’s delivery infrastructure, and coincide with U.S. policy moves to restrict visas for individuals involved in spyware misuse.