"God-like capabilities": An ad appearing on your phone can now spy on you, researchers say

Researchers at the University of Toronto's Citizen Lab have identified a privacy threat they call "ad-fection," in which online advertisements could infect a device and use its microphone or camera to record the user. The technique is described as "zero-click," meaning the user does not need to interact with the ad for the infection to occur. Global News reporter Nathaniel Dove covers the technology and the question of accountability.

• Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto calls the threat "ad-fection"
• Malicious online ads could infect devices and record users
• The attack is described as zero-click, requiring no interaction
• Global News examines the technology and accountability

Canadian cyber security experts researching at the University of Toronto (UofT) are warning of a new threat to privacy. Citizen Lab is calling it "ad-fection,” because online ads can infect your devices and use them to record you — without you interacting with it at all. Global’s Nathaniel Dove has more on the “zero-click” technology, and accountability. For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on TikTok HERE: https://www.tiktok.com/@globalnews.ca?lang=en #GlobalNews #Hacker #Cybersecurity #Tech #Spyware