Tech giant Google said an Italian vendor used a "combination of tactics, including drive-by downloads" to target mobile users on both iOS and Android devices in Italy and Kazakhstan.

The report said RCS Lab developed tools to spy on devices. Google said it had earlier testified at the EU Parliamentary hearing on “Big Tech and Spyware” about the work it has done to "monitor and disrupt the thriving industry".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-eight-year-hiatus-google-news-returns-to-spain-courtesy-updated-copyright-law-490836">Also Read:&nbsp;Google News returns to Spain, courtesy updated copyright law</a>

RCS Lab said it complies with European Union and will help to investigate the cybercrime.&nbsp;

Google said it has taken steps to protect the Android operating system. The development amid Israel's NSO's Pegasus spyware which allegedly targeted journalists, activists and dissidents.

Watch:&nbsp;Google embroiled in religious controversies

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-fineprint-google-embroiled-in-religious-controversies-491146/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Google said the spyware spread by getting people to click on links in messages. "Once clicked, the page attempted to get the user to download and install a malicious application on either Android or iOS," it said.

"In some cases, it worked with the target’s ISP to disable the target’s mobile data connectivity," Google said, adding,"once disabled, the attacker would send a malicious link via SMS asking the target to install an application to recover their data connectivity."

"Google's threat analysis group has been tracking more than 30 vendors with varying levels of sophistication selling exploits or surveillance capabilities to government-backed actors," it said.

(With inputs from Agencies)

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/live-tv/embed?autoplay=1&amp;mute=1" width="100%"></iframe>

You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

Tech giant Google said an Italian vendor used a "combination of tactics, including drive-by downloads" to target mobile users on both iOS and Android devices in Italy and Kazakhstan.

Tech giant Google said an Italian vendor used a "combination of tactics, including drive-by downloads" to target mobile users on both iOS and Android devices in Italy and Kazakhstan. The report said RCS Lab developed tools to spy on devices. Google said it had earlier testified at the EU Parliamentary hearing on “Big Tech and Spyware” about the work it has done to "monitor and disrupt the thriving industry". Also Read: Google News returns to Spain, courtesy updated copyright law RCS Lab said it complies with European Union and will help to investigate the cybercrime. Google said it has taken steps to protect the Android operating system. The development amid Israel's NSO's Pegasus spyware which allegedly targeted journalists, activists and dissidents. Watch: Google embroiled in religious controversies Google said the spyware spread by getting people to click on links in messages. "Once clicked, the page attempted to get the user to download and install a malicious application on either Android or iOS," it said. "In some cases, it worked with the target’s ISP to disable the target’s mobile data connectivity," Google said, adding,"once disabled, the attacker would send a malicious link via SMS asking the target to install an application to recover their data connectivity." "Google's threat analysis group has been tracking more than 30 vendors with varying levels of sophistication selling exploits or surveillance capabilities to government-backed actors," it said. (With inputs from Agencies) Watch WION LIVE HERE: You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Italian spyware targeted Apple, Android phones: Google

Twitter Inc has said that they will be testing their new feature that will allow users to tweet with their voice. The feature will capture up to 140 seconds of audio in a single tweet.&nbsp;

According to Twitter's blog post, the feature will be out for few users using Apple's iOS platform for now and later on it will be out for more users in the coming weeks.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/as-cases-of-domestic-violence-shoot-up-amid-covid-19-pandemic-twitter-launches-dedicated-tool-to-help-people-combat-the-menace-306527" hreflang="en">As cases of domestic violence shoot up amid COVID-19 pandemic, Twitter launches dedicated tool to help people combat the menace</a>

A new "wavelengths" icon will be present for users composing a tweet, this will allow them to use the new audio feature.&nbsp;

Twitter Inc has been under pressure for a long time to curb content that contains abuse, harassment and misinformation spread through their platform.&nbsp;

"We are working to incorporate additional monitoring systems ahead of bringing this to everyone," Twitter spokeswoman Aly Pavela told Reuters.

"We'll review any reported voice tweets in line with our rules, and take action, including labelling, as needed."

Earlier the social media platform came with a dedicated tool to help people combat domestic violence. As the reported cases of domestic violence against women continue to rise globally, microblogging platform Twitter has launched a dedicated search prompt that will direct people looking for domestic violence-related keywords towards relevant information and sources of help on Twitter.

According to the company statement, this feature will be available on iOS, Android, and mobile.twitter.com in India in English and Hindi languages.

Twitter Inc has said that they will be testing their new feature that will allow users to tweet with their voice. The feature will capture up to 140 seconds of audio in a single tweet.

Twitter Inc has said that they will be testing their new feature that will allow users to tweet with their voice. The feature will capture up to 140 seconds of audio in a single tweet. According to Twitter's blog post, the feature will be out for few users using Apple's iOS platform for now and later on it will be out for more users in the coming weeks. Also read: As cases of domestic violence shoot up amid COVID-19 pandemic, Twitter launches dedicated tool to help people combat the menace A new "wavelengths" icon will be present for users composing a tweet, this will allow them to use the new audio feature. Twitter Inc has been under pressure for a long time to curb content that contains abuse, harassment and misinformation spread through their platform. "We are working to incorporate additional monitoring systems ahead of bringing this to everyone," Twitter spokeswoman Aly Pavela told Reuters. "We'll review any reported voice tweets in line with our rules, and take action, including labelling, as needed." Earlier the social media platform came with a dedicated tool to help people combat domestic violence. As the reported cases of domestic violence against women continue to rise globally, microblogging platform Twitter has launched a dedicated search prompt that will direct people looking for domestic violence-related keywords towards relevant information and sources of help on Twitter. According to the company statement, this feature will be available on iOS, Android, and mobile.twitter.com in India in English and Hindi languages.

Twitter to test new voice tweeting feature on iOS users

A popular Chinese dating app for lesbians has been shut down, along with its website and main social media account, just as the gay community celebrates Taiwan&#39;s decision giving same-sex couples the right to marry, a first for Asia.

The app, Rela, set up in 2012, has around 5 million registered users, a cached version of its entry on Apple&#39;s iTunes site shows.

But users began noticing last week that the app, along with its Twitter-like Weibo account and website, was no longer accessible, according to users posting on Weibo under the hashtags #rela and #relahasbeenblocked.

The service was temporarily suspended due to an &quot;important adjustment in service,&quot; Rela told users on its WeChat app account.

&quot;Rela has always been with you and please await its return!&quot; it added, but gave no details of why it was suspending service.

&quot;This is discrimination against us lesbians,&quot; wrote one user on Weibo.

&quot;Not being able to open it feels like being jilted,&quot; wrote another.

It was not immediately clear why Rela has been shut down.

The company did not respond to an email seeking comment. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Internet regulator the Cyberspace Administration of China also did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment on Monday, which is a national holiday.

In the past, the government has blocked sites it deems could challenge Communist Party rule or threaten stability, including Western sites such as Facebook and Google&#39;s main search engine and Gmail service.

It is not illegal to be gay in China, although the country regarded homosexuality as a mental disorder until 2001. Many large cities have thriving gay scenes, but gay individuals still face a lot of family pressure to get married and have children.

Gay activists say deeply conservative attitudes towards homosexuality in some parts of society have contributed to occasional government clampdowns.

In April, another gay Chinese dating app, Zank, was also shut down after operating for about four years.

In a message on its Weibo account, which is still available, Zank said it had been accused by the internet regulator of broadcasting pornographic content and so had been closed down.

Still, gay dating apps are big business, even for Chinese companies.

Last week Beijing Kunlun Tech said it would buy the remaining stake in global gay dating app Grindr that it did not own.

(Reuters)

The app has around 5 million registered users

A popular Chinese dating app for lesbians has been shut down, along with its website and main social media account, just as the gay community celebrates Taiwan's decision giving same-sex couples the right to marry, a first for Asia. The app, Rela, set up in 2012, has around 5 million registered users, a cached version of its entry on Apple's iTunes site shows. But users began noticing last week that the app, along with its Twitter-like Weibo account and website, was no longer accessible, according to users posting on Weibo under the hashtags #rela and #relahasbeenblocked. The service was temporarily suspended due to an "important adjustment in service," Rela told users on its WeChat app account. "Rela has always been with you and please await its return!" it added, but gave no details of why it was suspending service. "This is discrimination against us lesbians," wrote one user on Weibo. "Not being able to open it feels like being jilted," wrote another. It was not immediately clear why Rela has been shut down. The company did not respond to an email seeking comment. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Internet regulator the Cyberspace Administration of China also did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment on Monday, which is a national holiday. In the past, the government has blocked sites it deems could challenge Communist Party rule or threaten stability, including Western sites such as Facebook and Google's main search engine and Gmail service. It is not illegal to be gay in China, although the country regarded homosexuality as a mental disorder until 2001. Many large cities have thriving gay scenes, but gay individuals still face a lot of family pressure to get married and have children. Gay activists say deeply conservative attitudes towards homosexuality in some parts of society have contributed to occasional government clampdowns. In April, another gay Chinese dating app, Zank, was also shut down after operating for about four years. In a message on its Weibo account, which is still available, Zank said it had been accused by the internet regulator of broadcasting pornographic content and so had been closed down. Still, gay dating apps are big business, even for Chinese companies. Last week Beijing Kunlun Tech said it would buy the remaining stake in global gay dating app Grindr that it did not own. (Reuters)

Popular Chinese lesbian dating app Rela removed from internet

Sweden&#39;s data protection agency banned King, the gaming company that owns Candy Crush, from collecting statistics on the ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientation of employees, even when used for promoting diversity.

The company defended its practice, saying it did not intend to discriminate against anyone and that employees were free to decide whether or not to provide the information to their employer, the agency said.

&quot;The information is collected on an individual level in order to see if, over time, sexual orientation or belonging to a specific ethnic group could have an impact on career opportunities,&quot; the agency said, after an investigation.

But Swedish law, which conforms to European Union regulations, bans the collection of this type of information without clearance from authorities, the agency said. In King&#39;s case, it would not be justified, it added.

The Swedish regulators also took issue with the company&#39;s claim that the information was collected on a voluntary basis, saying &quot;employees are in a relationship of dependency with their employer&quot;.

(AFP)

Company defended its practice saying employees were free to decide whether or not to provide the information

Sweden's data protection agency banned King, the gaming company that owns Candy Crush, from collecting statistics on the ethnic backgrounds and sexual orientation of employees, even when used for promoting diversity. The company defended its practice, saying it did not intend to discriminate against anyone and that employees were free to decide whether or not to provide the information to their employer, the agency said. "The information is collected on an individual level in order to see if, over time, sexual orientation or belonging to a specific ethnic group could have an impact on career opportunities," the agency said, after an investigation. But Swedish law, which conforms to European Union regulations, bans the collection of this type of information without clearance from authorities, the agency said. In King's case, it would not be justified, it added. The Swedish regulators also took issue with the company's claim that the information was collected on a voluntary basis, saying "employees are in a relationship of dependency with their employer". (AFP)

Candy Crush maker banned from gathering staff's ethnic data

ios-apps

Ios Apps, News on Ios Apps, stories on Ios Apps, articles on Ios Apps, Ios Apps stories at Wion, Ios Apps news, Ios Apps latest news

ios apps

Italian spyware targeted Apple, Android phones: Google

Twitter to test new voice tweeting feature on iOS users

Popular Chinese lesbian dating app Rela removed from internet

Candy Crush maker banned from gathering staff's ethnic data