A recent investigation by cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has cast a harsh spotlight on the secretive world of government-sanctioned digital surveillance. Researchers uncovered a new Windows spyware, dubbed ‘Dante,’ which has reportedly been used in a hacking campaign targeting individuals in Russia and Belarus. The trail led directly to Memento Labs, an Italian surveillance technology company.
In a revealing turn of events, TechCrunch reached out to Memento Labs, and their chief executive offered an astonishing confirmation. The CEO acknowledged that one of their government customers had indeed been ‘caught’ using their malware. Rather than deny the operation, the executive shifted responsibility, effectively blaming the customer for their operational security failure in getting discovered.
This candid admission opens a rare window into the often-opaque practices of the surveillance industry. It not only verifies the existence and deployment of such potent tools by state actors but also highlights the complex, often fraught, relationship between private tech developers and their government clients. The incident raises significant questions about accountability, ethical responsibilities, and the global proliferation of sophisticated hacking capabilities.
