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The case marks the first-ever zero-click mercenary spyware, confirmed publicly, delivered through targeted ads, the group said in a report published on Thursday. The spyware also targeted devices linked to Al Jazeera Media Network. Discover-Tech, an Israeli company that presents itself as a legitimate ad company but in reality operates for Israeli mercenary spyware partners like Candiru, placed targeted ads that directed millions of devices in dozens of countries to contact Candiru's servers for tracking and reconnaissance, according to the report. The Citizen Lab found that in 2024 and 2025, at least 45 devices within Al Jazeera were targeted in a series of zero-click ad attacks purchased by Discover-Tech. Discover-Tech controls a platform called Controlium that allows "mercenary partners to de-anonymize, fingerprint, and automatically infect devices" as soon as the ad is shown, without having the target even click on it. Read more: (https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-spyware-targeted-hundreds-millions-through-zero-click-ads-researchers-find) Israeli spyware targeted 'hundreds of millions' through zero-click ads, researchers find  The Citizen Lab found that in 2024 and 2025, at least 45 devices within Al Jazeera were targeted in ad attacks by Israeli company Discover-Tech (IMAGO/Alexander Limbach via Reuters Connect)          (https://www.middleeasteye.net/) (Home) (Home)   Top Menu En (https://www.middleeasteye.net/live) Live  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/news) News  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/trending) Trending  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion) Opinion  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/video) Video  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/explainers) Explainers    (https://www.youtube.com/MiddleEastEye)  Youtube   (https://x.com/MiddleEastEye)  X   (https://www.instagram.com/middleeasteye)  Instagram   (https://www.facebook.com/MiddleEastEye)  Facebook   (https://www.tiktok.com/@middleeasteye)  TikTok      (israeli-spyware-targeted-hundreds-millions-through-zero-click-ads.html#)  Top  Countries (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/algeria) Algeria    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/bahrain) Bahrain    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/china) China    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/egypt) Egypt    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/france) France    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/germany) Germany    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/india) India    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/iran) Iran    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/iraq) Iraq    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/israel) Israel    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/jordan) Jordan    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/kuwait) Kuwait    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/lebanon) Lebanon    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/libya) Libya    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/mauritania) Mauritania    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/morocco) Morocco    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/oman) Oman    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/pakistan) Pakistan    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/palestine) Palestine    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/qatar) Qatar    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/russia) Russia    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/saudi-arabia) Saudi Arabia    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/sudan) Sudan    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/syria) Syria    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/tunisia) Tunisia    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/turkey) Turkey    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uk) UK    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/uae) United Arab Emirates    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/us) US    (https://www.middleeasteye.net/countries/yemen) Yemen          About (https://www.middleeasteye.net/about-middle-east-eye) About us  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/privacy-policy) Privacy  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/terms-and-conditions) Terms and conditions  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/careers) (Careers) Careers  (https://www.middleeasteye.net/form/contact) (Contact Us) Contact us     Copyright © 2014 - 2026 . 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