The new startup from the United Arab Emirates offers as much as $ 20 million for hacker tools, which could help governments break into any smartphone using a text message.
Advanced safety solutions launched this month And now it offers Some of the highest pricesAt least public, throughout the zero market. Zero days are the disadvantages of software that are not known to affected programmers at the time of their discovery. These tools can be very helpful for hackers, especially those working for law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies.
In addition to the highest prize of $ 20 million, which applies to any mobile operating system, the company also offers prizes for Exploits in various software: $ 15 million for the same kind of zero days for Android and iPhone devices; $ 10 million for Windows; $ 5 million on Chrome; $ 1 million for Apple Safari and Microsoft Edge browsers.
It is not clear who is behind the company and its clients.
“We authorize government agencies, intelligence services and law enforcement agencies to act with precision on the digital battlefield,” we read on the company’s website. “We maintain continuous cooperation with over 25 governments and intelligence agencies around the world. Our clients are consistently returning to new services, reflecting the trust and strategic value, which we provide in high -rate operational contexts, including counteracting terrorism and drug control.”
The site also says that although the company is new, “is filled only by professionals with over 20 years of operational experience in elite intelligence units and private military performers.”
Advanced security solutions didn’t answer a variety of questions, including who is the owner and runs the company, who customers are, in addition to whether the company has any ethical or legal restrictions to which governments can sell.
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Do you have more information on advanced security solutions or other zero-day suppliers? You can safely contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai from a without work device on a signal +1 917 257 1382 or through a telegram and keybase @lorenzofb or e-mail. You can also contact TechCrunch via securedrop.
Safety researcher with experience in the world zero days told Techcrunch that the prices offered by Advanced Security Solutions are roughly consistent with the current market.
“Usually these advertised prices are in a football park,” a person said TechCrunch, provided anonymity to truthfully talk about the zero industry. The person added that the $ 20 million prize “is low depending on how deprived of scruples you are.”
The researcher also warned that he personally couldn’t cope with a company that does not reveal who is in favor of it, for example in this case. “I don’t think you sell worms to anyone who tries to hide who they are,” he said.
The zero days market has increased significantly in the last 10 years, each in terms of the variety of corporations participating in it and the prices offered.
In 2015, Zerodium, a broker, who, like Advanced Security Solutions, also acquires zero days from researchers and resale to their rule, was one of the first corporations that published their price list. At that time, the company founded by Veteran Broker Broker Chaouki Bekrar He offered as much as $ 1 million for iPhone hacking tools. Then, three years later, Crownosense got here Offering $ 3 million For the same form of zero days.
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Recently, the prices of zero days have increased rapidly, partly because there is more demand, and also because it is harder to hack modern devices and software, because of large technology corporations improving their safety.
Last yr, Crowdfense published his new price list, which he offered as much as $ 7 million for zero days to interrupt into the iPhones, and $ 5 million for the same kind of feats for Android. Customers can also buy zero days for specific applications, especially messages for sending messages akin to WhatsApp (as much as $ 8 million) and telegram (as much as $ 4 million).
For his part, Advanced Security Solutions claims that he offers $ 2 million on Telegram, Signal and WhatsApp zero-day.
The operation of the Russian company from Zero Day was a value protruding value, offering as much as $ 20 million for the same kind of feats that advanced security solutions are looking for. The Zero operation is in a unique position because it says that it really works only with the Russian government, and for many researchers in the USA and Europe it is illegal to sell their hacker tools Russia, which suggests that Zero surgery can have difficulty finding what they are looking for.