Coseinc Blacklisted Alongside Pegasus Spyware Developers
A Singapore-based cybersecurity firm, Computer Security Initiative Consultancy (Coseinc), has been placed on a US Department of Commerce blacklist for supposedly selling hacking tools that were utilized against global individuals and organizations. On Wednesday (Nov 3), Coseinc joined a list of four companies targeted for their involvement in harmful cyber activities.
This blacklist action was taken in concert with sanctions against Israel’s NSO Group and Candiru, known for their creation and distribution of the infamous Pegasus spyware, which gained notoriety for its ability to secretly activate phone cameras and access personal data. The revelation of Pegasus led to significant international backlash due to its use against high-profile targets like government officials and journalists.
The US Commerce Department’s statement did not specify the nature of the tools Coseinc allegedly sold but confirmed the company’s involvement in trafficking cyber hacking tools. This move reflects the US’s commitment to using export controls to penalize companies engaged in cyber threats, as articulated by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
Also blacklisted was Russia’s Positive Technologies, implicated in cyber attacks on the US. Coseinc, established in Singapore in 2004, describes itself as a consultancy specializing in advanced information security services. It is based at the Citilink Warehouse Complex in Pasir Panjang, directed by Mr Joseph Quek Han Ming and Mr Thomas Lim Choon Beng. Mr Lim, according to Reuters, has previously been linked to offers of selling hacking tools to an Italian firm.
The sanctions will severely restrict Coseinc’s ability to engage with US businesses. In response to these developments, Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs, K. Shanmugam, addressed concerns in Parliament, emphasizing that while such cyber threats are not novel, Singapore’s security measures are continuously enhanced to protect against them. He also advocated for personal cyber hygiene practices to mitigate such risks.
