The Russian-backed APT29 group was seen using the same iOS and Google Chrome exploits as commercial surveillanceware vendors NSO Group and Intellexa.
The U.S. will impose visa restrictions on individuals that use or financially benefit from commercial spyware in a "novel and creative measure."
As the commercial spyware market continues to grow, public and private sector organizations are considering all their options - from financial sanctions to a complete global moratorium.
QuaDream's spyware has been used in hacks against journalists, political dissidents and non-government organization workers in North America, Central Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Google's Threat Analysis Group has exposed a new exploit framework called Heliconia that may have been used to exploit zero days in Chrome, Firefox, and Windows.