Ukraine busts SIM farms targeting soldiers with spyware

Infrastructure that enabled two pro-Russia Ukraine residents to break into soldiers' devices and deploy spyware has been dismantled by the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU). Thousands of mobile numbers and Telegram accounts were being run by what Ukrainian authorities are calling bot farms, which look an awful lot like SIM …

[I like fruits]

SSU Rocks!

During the full-scale russian invasion Ukrainian security service has grown into a formidable opponent. The SSU sea drones laid waste to the russian fleet in Black Sea. They are also behind many of the long-range drone attacks on russian territory. They help to target the rocket strikes as well. I heard good things about their counterintelligence department. The SSU units also operate on the front lines.

[Jellied Eel]

Re: SSU Rocks!

I heard good things about their counterintelligence department. The SSU units also operate on the front lines.

They've also assassinated a few journalists. Do they pay well? Problem with Budanov's Banderite bandits is they also tend to attract retaliation when they do their PR stunts.

[Kurgan]

Is this enough for execution?

Ukraine is at war, this is sabotage or espionage. Is this enough to be executed?

[DS999]

Re: Is this enough for execution?

When German spies were found operating on US soil during WW II, some were executed so it is enough under US law. I assume most countries laws are similar.

However, some of those spies were given a deal - work with us to feed misinformation we provide or you'll have a quick trial, and they chose to take the deal. Just enough real information was supplied to keep the Nazis from figuring out what was going on, the rest was fake designed to do stuff like lure U-boats into traps or uncover other German spies operating inside the US.

[bdeluca]

Re: Is this enough for execution?

No Ukraine has no death penalty for any offence.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Is this enough for execution?

It didn't stop Ukrainian fascists dragging pro-Russians from their homes and executing them. Didn't stop government ministers cheering that.

If it had then Ukraine might never have been in this mess.

[nobody who matters]

Working against your own country in that way is treason - an offence which the UK stopped offering execution by hanging as the ultimate punishment for in 1998. Even before then, the normal sentence was a lengthy prison term - the last person to be actually hanged for high treason in the UK was William Joyce ('Lord Haw-Haw') in 1946.

No doubt there are many nations which would still be keen to execute someone for such an offence, and in Russia even blowing a raspberry at Putin would probably result in summary execution (or 20 years hard labour at least).

[Jellied Eel]

.. and in Russia even blowing a raspberry at Putin would probably result in summary execution (or 20 years hard labour at least).

Suggesting Zelensky's not the legitimate President of Ukraine will get you locked up.

[TheWeetabix]

Show one link to a reputable news source. Al Jazeera will do in a pinch.