Certo Software Ltd is a British multinational cybersecurity technology company headquartered in Basingstoke, England.[1] The company specializes in consumer mobile security and privacy solutions.
 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mobile security |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder |
|
| Headquarters | , United Kingdom |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | |
| Products | Cybersecurity software |
| Website | www |
History
editCerto Software was founded in the United Kingdom in 2016 by its current CEOs Russell Kent-Payne and Simon Lewis.
The company’s first product, a spyware detection tool called Certo AntiSpy, was released in the same year in response to the increased popularity of commercial spyware and the limited protection options available to iPhone users at the time. The company claims the software was the first ever spyware detection solution for iPhones.[2][3]
Cybersecurity Research
editIn 2021 Certo conducted a UK survey into people’s attitudes towards phone snooping and the use of stalkerware. This found that only 31% of people surveyed thought that spying on someone else’s phone was illegal.[4]
In 2022 Certo published research into the advertising strategies used by companies selling phone monitoring software, how this compared to their official brand messaging, and how search engines were facilitating the misuse of such software.[5]
In 2023 the company revealed how Apple’s iTunes Wi-Fi Sync feature was being exploited by spyware providers in order to give cyberstalkers access to data from their victim’s devices.[6]
In 2023 Certo released research exposing how the Phone Link app in Windows 11 could be used to silently spy on messages and notifications from an iPhone via a Bluetooth connection.[7] The company claimed that this method had been actively used to target real iPhone users in domestic tech abuse situations.
Research published by Certo in December 2023 demonstrated how third-party custom keyboards in iOS were being manipulated by cybercriminals, allowing them to secretly record keystrokes on their victim's device.[8]
References
edit- ^ "CERTO SOFTWARE LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Chen, Brian X. (2021-09-29). "'Stalkerware' Apps Are Proliferating. Protect Yourself". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Kingsley-Hughes, Adrian. "Has your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch been hacked? Here's how to find out". ZDNET. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ "Taking a stand against online stalking". www.interpol.int. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Williams, Rhiannon. "Google is failing to enforce its own ban on ads for stalkerware". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Hughes, Luke (2023-01-18). "This feature you've never heard of might be letting anyone you know snoop on your iPhone". TechRadar. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Whitney, Lance (2023-05-12). "How cyberstalkers could access your iPhone using the Windows Phone Link app". TechRepublic. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ Spadafora, Anthony (2023-12-04). "Hackers have found a sneaky new way to spy on your iPhone — here's how". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2024-01-04.