ICE Signs $2M Deal for Zero-Click Phone Hacking Tool
Reports indicate that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has entered a $2 million contract for spyware with zero-click exploit capabilities, meaning the tool can compromise a target's phone without the victim clicking a link or opening a file.
Zero-click exploits are considered the most dangerous class of mobile attack because they leave almost no trace of user error to blame, exploiting flaws deep in how phones process incoming data like messages or calls. This type of technology has historically been associated with nation-state intelligence operations and controversial vendors like NSO Group, whose Pegasus tool has been used against journalists and activists worldwide.
The contract raises questions about oversight, since these tools are engineered to bypass encryption and OS-level protections that Apple and Google have spent years hardening.