surveillance technology Archives

AppWizard

July 25, 2026

MindsEye has multiplayer and a grenade football mode now, which the handful of people still playing it will no doubt be thrilled to hear

Build a Rocket Boy is committed to developing its open-world shooter, MindsEye, despite facing challenges such as low sales, recent layoffs, and allegations of surveillance technology being installed on employees' workstations. The latest update, Update 8, introduces a team-based multiplayer mode called "grenade football," where players aim to score by propelling a large ball into the opposing team's net. However, the gameplay appears unpolished, with issues like the oversized ball disappearing during play. The game has seen a peak of only 36 concurrent players in the past 24 hours, raising concerns about player engagement. The update also includes new racing circuits, social features, and improvements to the single-player experience, such as better enemy physics, adjusted mission difficulty, and refined AI behavior. Despite the rocky launch, there is a desire for improvement, but former developers have protested against the studio's practices, and concerns have been raised about the shifting of work from employees to the fanbase during a crisis in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

April 24, 2026

Another spyware maker caught distributing fake Android snooping apps

The Italian digital rights organization Osservatorio Nessuno has revealed a new malware called Morpheus, used by government agencies for surveillance. Morpheus is disguised as a phone updating application and can extract various data from targets' devices. The spyware is linked to IPS, an Italian firm specializing in lawful interception technologies, which claims to operate in over 20 countries. Morpheus is categorized as "low cost" due to its straightforward infection method, which involves tricking targets into installing the software. Authorities collaborated with the target's mobile service provider to obstruct data and send an SMS prompting the installation of the malware. Once installed, Morpheus exploits Android's accessibility features to access extensive information and masquerades as the WhatsApp application to solicit biometric data. The spyware's code contains Italian phrases and references to "Gomorra," indicating its connection to the Italian spyware industry. The attack is likely linked to political activism in Italy. IPS is among several Italian spyware manufacturers that have emerged following the decline of Hacking Team.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Hide from Meta’s spyglasses with this new Android app

An innovative Android application called Nearby Glasses, developed by Yves Jeanrenaud from Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, alerts users about nearby smart glasses using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology. The app detects manufacturer identifiers associated with smart eyewear, including Ray-Ban Meta AI Glasses, and notifies users when such glasses are in proximity. However, it may produce false positives due to other Bluetooth devices from the same manufacturer. The app's launch coincides with growing concerns about non-consensual recording, highlighted by incidents like a viral altercation on a New York subway involving smart glasses. Meta has stated that their glasses have an LED light that indicates when recording is occurring, but this indicator can be disabled. Legal experts warn that while video recording in public is generally allowed, collecting biometric data raises privacy concerns, and various state laws may require consent for audio recordings. Recent courtroom incidents have also underscored the contentious nature of wearable technology.

AppWizard

February 25, 2026

Wary of strangers recording you? This app warns you when smart glasses are nearby

A new Android application called Nearby Glasses, developed by Yves Jeanrenaud, alerts users when smart glasses are nearby by scanning for specific Bluetooth signatures. It is available on the Google Play Store and GitHub, functioning by identifying Bluetooth advertising frames from brands like Meta and Luxottica Group S.p.A. The app aims to address privacy concerns associated with smart glasses, particularly in light of reports about facial recognition technology being integrated into these devices. Jeanrenaud created the app to provide a countermeasure to surveillance technology, though he warns it may generate false positives with other devices that emit similar signals. The market for smart glasses is expanding, with companies like Google, Samsung, and Apple expected to enter the market.