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Targeted ads delivered 0-click exploits to install mercenary malware

Researchers say that mercenary hackers laced ads with zero-click exploits that installed sophisticated malware on the devices of targeted individuals when they did nothing other than load a website or open an installed app. The finding, published Thursday by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, said the incident is likely to be the first confirmation of zero-click mercenary spyware delivered through targeted ads.

Published 17-Oct-2026 22:18 UTC · First seen 15-Oct-2026 23:59 UTC

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