1. The stalkerware maker Scott Zuckerman, who was banned by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2021 for selling invasive spyware, had his request to lift the ban denied. 2. In 2018, a security breach at one of Zuckerman's companies exposed sensitive data of thousands of users, including selfies, text messages, and location information. 3. Despite claims that the FTC's order has made it difficult to run other businesses, TechCrunch reported in 2022 that Zuckerman seemed to be operating another stalkerware company, potentially violating the FTC ban.

A: Hey there! Did you hear about that stalkerware guy? B: No, who's he? A: It's this dude named Scott Zuckerman. He made a spyware company called Support King and two other ones called SpyFone and OneClickMonitor. But the U.S. guys said no way for him to sell that invasive software again! B: Really? Why not? A: Well, in 2018, they found out he had this bucket on Amazon full of people's private stuff like selfies, messages, and all that. It was open for anyone to see! So the U.S. said no more stalkerware business for him in 2021. They even made him delete all the data he collected from SpyFone. B: And now? Can't he do it anymore? A: Yeah, they just denied his request to lift the ban this year. He said it was hard for him to run other businesses because of the security costs. But the U.S. guys said, "Nope, you can't sneak around!" B: Wow, that sounds serious! I guess he won't be able to do it again then. A: Exactly! And get this - even after the ban, it looks like he tried to run another stalkerware company last year. The U.S. guys found out and said, "Nope, not again!" B: Crazy! I'm glad they're keeping an eye on him. Those apps are creepy, man. A: Totally! It's important to protect people's privacy. It's like their lives out there in those phones and devices, you know? And he's not the only one who's done this - for the last eight years, at least 26 stalkerware companies have had problems with data breaches. B: Wow, that's scary... I wonder what'll happen next. A: Me too, buddy! Let's hope people keep their privacy safe and those stalkerware guys learn their lesson!

A stalkerware maker who was banned from the surveillance industry after a data breach that exposed the personal information of its customers, as well as the people they were spying on, will not be able to go back to selling the invasive software, according the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The FTC denied a request to cancel that ban made by Scott Zuckerman, the founder of consumer spyware company Support King and its subsidiaries SpyFone and OneClickMonitor. On Monday, the FTC announced the denial in a press release after Zuckerman petitioned the federal watchdog to rescind or modify the ban order in July of this year. In 2021, the FTC banned Zuckerman from “offering, promoting, selling, or advertising any surveillance app, service, or business,” effectively preventing him from running another stalkerware business. The agency also ordered Zuckerman to delete all the data collected by SpyFone, as well as to undergo frequent audits and establish certain cybersecurity practices for his businesses. “SpyFone is a brazen brand name for a surveillance business that helped stalkers steal private information,” said Samuel Levine, then acting director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The stalkerware was hidden from device owners, but was fully exposed to hackers who exploited the company’s slipshod security.” In his petition, Zuckerman claimed that the FTC order’s security requirements have made it harder for him to run his other businesses due to financial costs, despite the fact that Support King is no longer in operation and he now only runs a restaurant and plans other “tourism ventures” in Puerto Rico, according to the petition. When reached via email, Zuckerman declined to comment and referred questions to his lawyer. The FTC ban stemmed from an incident in 2018, when a security researcher found an Amazon S3 bucket belonging to SpyFone that left extremely sensitive data — including selfies, text messages, chat app messages, audio recordings, contacts, location, hashed passwords and logins, and more — exposed online for anyone to see and access. The exposed data included 44,109 unique email addresses and, according to the researcher who found the breach, “at least 2,208 current ‘customers’ and hundreds or thousands of photos and audio in each folder” from 3,666 phones that had the SpyFone stalkerware installed on them. Less than a year after the 2021 FTC order, TechCrunch reported that Zuckerman appeared to be running another stalkerware company. In 2022, TechCrunch received a trove of breached data from stalkerware app SpyTrac. The data revealed that SpyTrac was run by freelance developers with direct ties to Support King, in what appeared to be an attempt to circumvent the FTC’s ban. Furthermore, the breached data included records from SpyFone, which Zuckerman was ordered to delete, and keys to access the cloud storage of OneClickMonitor, another one of his stalkerware apps. Eva Galperin, a prominent expert on stalkerware, celebrated the news. “Mr. Zuckerman was clearly hoping that if he laid low for a few years, everyone would forget about the reasons why the FTC issued a ban not only against the company, but against him specifically,” Galperin told TechCrunch.  TechCrunch’s revelation in 2022 that Zuckerman apparently violated the FTC ban, “suggests that Zuckerman did not learn his lesson,” added Galperin, who is the director of cybersecurity at the digital rights nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation. Stalkerware apps allow their customers to surreptitiously spy on the phones and devices of their loved ones. In addition to enabling potentially illegal activities, for the last eight years, there have been at least 26 stalkerware companies that have been hacked or left sensitive data exposed online, according to TechCrunch’s tally. These repeated incidents show these companies have repeatedly failed to protect the privacy of their customers, as well as the people they spy on. Topics © 2025 TechCrunch Media LLC. Quiz 1: Who was banned by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission? A. Scott Zuckerman's restaurant B. Scott Zuckerman C. SpyFone D. OneClickMonitor Quiz 2: What did the FTC order Scott Zuckerman to do after the data breach? A. Delete all the data collected by SpyFone and establish certain cybersecurity practices for his businesses. B. Offer, promote, sell, or advertise any surveillance app, service, or business. C. Run another stalkerware business. D. None of the above Quiz 3: In which year did a security researcher find an Amazon S3 bucket belonging to SpyFone that left sensitive data exposed online? A. 2016 B. 2017 C. 2018 D. 2019

A: Hey there! Guess what happened? B: What's up? A: So, there was a bit of tension in the air today. Japan's military said that a Chinese fighter jet pointed its radar at our planes twice over the weekend! B: Whoa, really? Where and when did this happen? A: The first time it happened, the Chinese jet was about 52 kilometers away. But the second time, it was around 148 kilometers away. Both incidents took place southeast of Okinawa's main island. B: Wow, that's close for one and pretty far for the other! Did our side say anything about this? A: Well, Japan described it as dangerous, while China said it was just standard procedure. Our Defense Ministry is investigating further now to figure out what exactly was going on. It seems the Chinese jet took off from their aircraft carrier Liaoning. B: That's quite interesting! I hope things don't get any more serious than this. Let's keep our fingers crossed, okay? A: Agreed! Let's hope it stays like that and everyone stays safe.

1. A Chinese J-15 fighter jet aimed radar at Japanese F-15 aircraft twice on December 9, from approximately 52 kilometers away in the first instance and 148 kilometers away in the second. 2. The incidents occurred southeast of Okinawa's main island, with the Chinese jet taking off from the aircraft carrier Liaoning. 3. China had informed Japan in advance about takeoff and landing exercises on the carrier, but Japan considers directing radar at its aircraft as dangerous, while China maintains it was standard procedure. Japan is analyzing the situation further to understand China's intentions.

NHK has learned that at least one Chinese fighter jet, which aimed radar at Japan's Air Self-Defense Force aircraft on two occasions on Saturday, was roughly 52 kilometers away the first time and about 148 kilometers away the second time. Japan's Defense Ministry says at least one Chinese J-15 jet intermittently aimed its radar at Japan's F-15s over international waters southeast of Okinawa's main island. The Chinese jet had taken off from the aircraft carrier Liaoning. Sources stated that the distance between the fighter jets when radar was aimed was roughly 52 kilometers the first time and about 148 kilometers the second time. Sources also said that the Chinese side had informed the Japanese side in advance that takeoff and landing exercises would be held on the carrier. Japan has described directing radar at its aircraft as dangerous, while China has said it was standard procedure. Japan's Defense Ministry is conducting further analyses of the circumstances and of China's intentions. Quiz 1: On which occasion was the Chinese fighter jet approximately 52 kilometers away from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force aircraft? A. The first time B. The second time C. Both the first and second times D. Neither the first nor the second time Quiz 2: Which type of Chinese jet was involved in the incident over international waters southeast of Okinawa's main island? A. J-10 B. J-11 C. J-15 D. J-20 Quiz 3: Where did the Chinese jet take off from on the day of the incident? A. The mainland of China B. Okinawa's main island C. The aircraft carrier Liaoning D. An unknown location

A: Hey there! How's it going? B: Hey, not too bad! What's up? A: You didn't hear about the news yesterday, right? B: No, I haven't. What happened? A: Well, our Defense Minister Koizumi was worried about some Chinese military planes pointing radar at our fighter jets near Okinawa. He thinks it's risky! B: Oh, wow! That sounds serious... Did Japan get any warning before the training? A: Nah, Japan says they didn't receive flight and navigation info for China's navy drill in advance. B: That's not good... Anyway, what did China say about it? A: They claimed that Japan messed up their military exercise! But Koizumi mentioned a message from the US Ambassador to Japan, saying the alliance between us is stronger than ever. B: That sounds comforting, especially since Koizumi thinks it's important for our relationship. He wants to keep talking with the U.S. government.

1. Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has raised concerns over Chinese military aircraft directing radar at Japanese fighter jets in international waters near Okinawa, considering it a dangerous act. 2. Japan claims China did not provide flight and navigation information for its navy training activities in advance. 3. In response to the incident, China criticized Japan while claiming that Japan disrupted a military training drill. The US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, reaffirmed the strong US-Japan alliance in a public statement.

Japan's Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro has again expressed concern over Chinese military aircraft directing radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets over international waters off Okinawa's main island in southern Japan on Saturday. Koizumi told reporters on Tuesday that generally speaking, using radar for searching purposes does not involve intermittent aiming of the device in a way similar to the incident. He said the act is dangerous. He added that Japan does not believe that it has been given flight and navigation information over sea and airspace related to China's navy training in advance. In reaction to Japan's announcement of the incident, China criticized Japan, claiming it disrupted a military training drill being held there. Koizumi referred to a post on Monday on X by US Ambassador to Japan George Glass. He wrote "the US-Japan Alliance is stronger and more united than ever." Koizumi said the timing of the message shows that the bilateral alliance is always functioning as a deterrent, adding that this is important. He said he hopes to continue having various communications with the US government. Quiz 1: On which day did the incident involving Chinese military aircraft and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets occur? A. December 8, 2025 B. December 9, 2025 (Correct Answer) C. December 7, 2025 D. December 10, 2025 Quiz 2: Which country's Ambassador to Japan wrote a post expressing support for the US-Japan Alliance? A. Russia's Ambassador to Japan B. China's Ambassador to Japan C. UK's Ambassador to Japan (False) D. USA's Ambassador to Japan (Correct Answer) Quiz 3: What did Japan claim regarding advance flight and navigation information over sea and airspace related to China's navy training? A. Japan was given the information in advance B. Japan has not been given the information in advance (Correct Answer) C. Japan does not need the information D. The information is not relevant to Japan

A: Hey there! Did you catch the news yesterday? B: No, what's up? A: Well, our top government guy, Kihara Minoru, had a chat with China about that incident near Okinawa! B: Oh, you mean the one with the Chinese fighter jet and our Air Self-Defense Force? A: Yeah, that's the one! So, it turns out that Japan claims China used radar to track them without permission, and China says it's normal for flight safety. B: But Kihara said it's not usual to use radar intermittently like they did on Saturday. He also thinks it was a dangerous act beyond what's needed for flight safety. A: Right! So, we believe China was up to something more than just ensuring flight safety. Kinda intense, huh?