Israeli firm used ads on 120,000 websites to spy on users, deploy spyware: Report

Jerusalem (TIP): Online advertisements for everyday products such as phones and earbuds may have been used to track internet users and help install spyware on their devices, according to two investigations into an Israeli digital advertising company.
Discover-Tech allegedly built a sprawling advertising network that reached more than 120,000 websites and 75,000 apps, allowing it to track users and, in some cases, help surveillance firms target their devices, researchers said on Thursday, Oct 15.
The findings, published separately by Canadian cyber watchdog Citizen Lab and New York-based advertising security firm Confiant, expose how the digital advertising industry can be exploited for purposes far removed from selling products.
The revelations also raise concerns for internet users in India, where millions rely on advertising-supported websites and mobile apps for news, shopping and everyday services. However, the investigations do not establish that Indian users or government networks were specifically targeted by Discover-Tech. Online advertising relies on technology that helps companies identify users, measure their behaviour and deliver targeted promotions. Researchers said Discover-Tech allegedly exploited this infrastructure to track people across websites and apps, with some advertisements reportedly helping to deliver spyware.
Users did not necessarily have to click on an advertisement for tracking to begin. According to the researchers, the ads could collect information simply by loading on a webpage or within an app.