Private #Spies Hired by the FBI and Corporate Firms Infiltrate Discord, Reddit, WhatsApp & Telegram

Leading “threat intelligence” firms are creating fake online personas to gain access to every corner of the web.

That anime cartoon avi anon in your DM group could actually be a spy.

I have a new investigation of "threat intel" firms -- contractors hired by corporations and the gov, including the FBI, to infiltrate private forums on sites like Reddit, Discord, WhatsApp, Telegram.

I talked to leading firms in the industry, including ZeroFox, DarkOwl, Searchlight Cyber, Flashpoint, & CyberInt. Several firms told me they create online personas that spend years building credibility & contacts to gain access to invite-only chat groups.

The threat intel industry focuses largely on cyber criminals, especially hackers, but also left & right-wing domestic activists. The push to penetrate private online spaces has grown since the so-called Discord Leaks.

https://www.leefang.com/p/private-spies-hired-by-the-fbi-and