Israeli firm’s digital ads enabling installation of ‘zero-click’ spyware, researchers say
Summary
Researchers from Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto say Discover-Tech’s Controlium platform enables zero-click spyware to be delivered via online ads, allowing mass profiling and covert hacking without user interaction. The findings connect ad tech to targeted surveillance, with millions of ads served since 2024 and potential targets including government officials and journalists. The report highlights regulatory gaps and security risks within the online advertising ecosystem.