MOSCOW, September 15 (RIA Novosti) - WikiLeaks has released previously unseen copies of weaponized German surveillance malware, used by intelligence agencies around the world to spy on journalists and political dissidents, the organization said Monday.
"FinFisher continues to operate brazenly from Germany selling weaponized surveillance malware to some of the most abusive regimes in the world. This full data release will help the technical community build tools to protect people from FinFisher including by tracking down its command and control centers," WikiLeaks reported, citing their editor-in-chief Julian Assange.
FinFisher is a German company, specializing in computer intrusion systems, the exploitation of software and remote monitoring systems capable of intercepting communications and data from various devices. WikiLeaks first published documents detailing their products and business in December 2011.
Assange accused German Chancellor Angela Merkel of protecting the company.
"The Merkel government pretends to be concerned about privacy, but its actions speak otherwise. Why does the Merkel government continue to protect FinFisher?" he said.
Assange launched the WikiLeaks website back in 2006, taking the role of its editor-in-chief. Wikileaks made its name by releasing scores of classified diplomatic and military documents from governments around the world, most notably the United States. The whistleblower was charged with sexual assault in Sweden in 2010. Assange denies the charges of rape saying they are politically motivated.
