NoviSpy
| Developer(s) | Proprietary |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Operating system | Android |
| License | Proprietary |
Search NoviSpy on Amazon.
NoviSpy is a proprietary Android spyware application utilized by law enforcement and intelligence agencies in Serbia, specifically the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MUP) and the Security Information Agency (BIA). The software came to international prominence in late 2024 following a comprehensive investigation by Amnesty International, which documented its use in targeted digital surveillance against journalists, environmental activists, and civil society members.[1]
History and discovery
The existence and operational deployment of NoviSpy were publicly disclosed in December 2024 in an Amnesty International report titled “A Digital Prison”: Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia.[1] The investigation revealed a coordinated pattern of digital targeting coinciding with widespread public protests in Serbia, particularly those directed against lithium mining projects.[2]
According to forensic analysis, the spyware was actively deployed to compromise the mobile devices of prominent public figures, investigative reporters, and NGO leaders who were critical of government policies.[1]
Technical characteristics and deployment
Unlike commercially available spyware (such as Pegasus or Predator) that often relies on remote "zero-click" exploits via messaging applications, NoviSpy is typically installed through physical access or close-proximity social engineering:
- Physical Installation: Forensic evidence indicates that NoviSpy was repeatedly installed on targets' devices during periods of official police detention, border control stops, or informal interviews, where individuals were forced to surrender their mobile phones.[1]
- Capabilities: Once installed on an Android device, NoviSpy grants operators extensive access to the target's data, including encrypted chat logs, location history, microphone recordings, contact lists, and stored media.
- Integration with Forensics: The deployment of NoviSpy has been structurally linked with the use of mobile forensic extraction hardware. Reports documented that state agencies used tools manufactured by the Israeli forensics company Cellebrite to bypass device locks and extract historical data, alongside infecting phones with NoviSpy for ongoing surveillance.[3]
Human rights concerns and reactions
The discovery of NoviSpy sparked significant criticism from international press freedom organizations and digital rights watchdogs. Amnesty International classified the systematic use of the spyware as a violation of the rights to privacy and freedom of expression, describing the environment for Serbian civil society as a "digital prison".[1]
Human rights groups have called for independent oversight into the procurement of such surveillance software by Serbian state bodies and urged international regulations on the export of forensic and spyware technologies to countries with documented track records of targeting activists.
See also
- Spyware
- Pegasus (spyware)
- Human rights in Serbia
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "A Digital Prison": Surveillance and the Suppression of Civil Society in Serbia (Report). Amnesty International. December 2024. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ Stojanovic, Milica (4 December 2024). "Serbian Authorities Using Spyware to Target Activists, Amnesty Says". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
- ↑ "Serbia: Authorities using spyware and Cellebrite forensic extraction tools to hack journalists and activists". Amnesty International. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 2026-10-15.
This article "NoviSpy" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:NoviSpy. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
