UK government says 100 countries have spyware that can hack people’s phones

UK intelligence reports that 100 countries now have access to commercial spyware capable of breaking into phones and computers, up from 80 in 2023. The National Cyber Security Centre warns that the barrier to acquiring such surveillance tools has fallen, increasing risk to UK citizens, companies, and critical infrastructure. The report notes that victimology has expanded beyond political targets to include bankers and businesspeople.