Google took a month to shut down Catwatchful, a phone spyware operation hosted on its servers

Google has suspended the Firebase account of Catwatchful, a phone spyware operation, following a TechCrunch investigation. The spyware was using Google's servers to host and run its surveillance app, which was secretly monitoring thousands of people's phones. The investigation revealed that Catwatchful was able to operate on Google's platform for a month before the tech giant took action to shut it down. This raises concerns about the potential for abuse of Google's services by malicious actors. The spyware app was designed to secretly monitor users' activities, including their call logs, messages, and location data, without their knowledge or consent. This type of surveillance raises serious privacy and security concerns for the affected individuals. The incident highlights the need for stronger measures to prevent the misuse of digital platforms and the importance of vigilance in addressing such threats to protect user privacy and security.