Coseinc provides cybersecurity consulting and research at its headquarters in Pasir Panjang, southern Singapore (pictured on the right). The Straits Times wrote in an article that the Singapore-based cyber security company Computer Security Initiative Consulting (Coseinc) was blacklisted by the US Department of Commerce for allegedly selling hacking tools to unnamed entities. Reported on November 4. The official reason is that the company was accused of engaging in “malicious cyber activities” and was blacklisted along with three other companies, namely the Israeli spyware company NSO Group and Candiru,…
The Singapore-based cybersecurity company Computer Security Initiative Consulting (Coseinc) was blacklisted by the U.S. Department of Commerce for allegedly selling hacking tools to unnamed entities. The department said these tools were used to target individuals and organizations around the world. Straits Times Written in a report on November 4.
The official reason is that the company was accused of “malicious cyber activities” and was blacklisted along with three other companies, namely Israeli spyware companies NSO Group and Candiru, and Russia’s Positive Technologies.
Allegedly, Coseinc was involved in the development and supply of the “Pegasus” spyware originally created by the NSO Group. The software’s design features allow the secret installation of spyware on mobile phones running iOS and Android, as well as reading text messages, tracking calls, collecting passwords, tracking the location of the phone owner, accessing the microphone and camera of the target device, and collecting from apps information.
Spyware targeting government officials, journalists and activists
Pegasus spyware was found to be used internationally against government officials, journalists and activists, and the targeted individuals did not know what they were exposed to, so the discovery that it caused global outrage.
A press statement issued by the US Department of Commerce on November 3 stated that Coseinc was blacklisted because it “selled cyber hacking tools,” but did not provide information about the nature of the tools.
Since its establishment in 2004, Coseinc has described itself on its website as a private investment company that provides customers with “highly specialized information security services.” The company stated that it focuses on three vertical areas of cybersecurity research, consulting, and education, and operates two main departments, the “Advanced Malware Lab” and the “Vulnerability Research Lab.”
Seeking programming talent
In the recruitment department of its website, the company is currently looking for computer and programming talents, including mobile security researchers. Their job requirements include “in-depth understanding” of iOS/Android security models, how they are implemented, and “how to Bypass them”. “
According to the report, the sanctions imposed on Coseinc are expected to have a significant impact on its ability to conduct business with U.S. entities.
