Log inOpen app
Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
4,241 posts
user avatar
Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
@DonnchaC
Head of Security Lab at @AmnestyTech - Hunting spyware and unlawful surveillance targeting civil society (He/Him) - Fedi: @[email protected]
Berlin
donncha.is
Joined September 2011
5,021
Following
5,919
Followers
user avatar
@DonnchaC

See Donncha Ó Cearbhaill’s full profile

Open X

New to X?

Sign up now to get your own personalized timeline!

Create account

By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, including Cookie Use.

Terms·Privacy·Cookies·Accessibility·Ads Info·© 2026 X Corp.
Don't miss what's happening
People on X are the first to know.
Log inSign up
  • Pinned
    user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Nov 1, 2023
    Our team @AmnestyTech is available to support journalists and activists who are concerned about targeted spyware attacks. Please reach out if concerned and share widely with individuals in your networks who may be at risk. securitylab.amnesty.org/contact-us/
    user avatar
    Amnesty Tech
    @AmnestyTech
    Apr 22, 2022
    The mercenary spyware industry is threatening rights defenders and journalists worldwide. Our experts @AmnestyTech can check devices for signs of spyware 🔍. Contact [email protected] if you're concerned, or if yourself or a colleague has received an attack notification
    9
    133
    189
    55K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Dec 16, 2024
    🚨 BREAKING: Amnesty’s latest report on digital surveillance in Serbia: new *NoviSpy* spyware discovered; zero days identified and patched; and first evidence showing use of Cellebrite UFED forensic products to unlock phones to then infect with spyware. 🧵
    9
    329
    867
    174K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Aug 29, 2025
    🚨 BREAKING: New zero-click exploit used to hack WhatsApp users. WhatsApp has just sent out a round of threat notifications to individuals they believe where targeted by an advanced spyware campaign in past 90 days. Seek out expert help if you have received this alert
    18
    185
    515
    92K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Feb 28, 2025
    🚨 UPDATE YOUR DEVICES 🚨: Amnesty International uncovers sophisticated zero-day exploit affecting billions of Android devices. Cellebrite's Linux USB exploit was used to unlock the phone of a Serbian youth activist, targeted in December 2024 **after** previous reports abuses
    4
    191
    483
    47K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Apr 7, 2023
    Super proud of our team at @AmnestyTech and everyone who helped in this investigation. Today, Apple published an emergency update for all iPhones to patch an exploit chain which we, together with @_clem1 (Google TAG) discovered in the wild.
    12
    148
    411
    178K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Oct 24, 2022
    NEW RESEARCH: Watch how NSO Group's zero-click attacks have evolved over recent years. Joint research by @AmnestyTech and @billmarczak (@citizenlab) presented at @virusbtn. Exploit archaeology: A forensic history of in-the-wild NSO Group exploits
    Exploit archaeology a forensic history of in the wild NSO Group exploits Donncha Ó Cearbhaill Amnest
    From youtube.com
    4
    120
    321
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Dec 14, 2016
    Reliably compromising Ubuntu desktops by attacking the crash reporter donncha.is/2016/12/compro…
    6
    202
    214
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Aug 2, 2022
    The "Guacamaya" hacktivist collective has leaked terabytes of emails from state-owned and private extractivist companies in Latin America, aiming to expose the environmental damage caused by this industry. 🧵
    This Post is from an account that no longer exists. Learn more
    4
    47
    186
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Dec 30, 2023
    My #37c3 talk on the #PredatorFiles and the European spyware ecosystem is now streamable online. Very happy to be able to share our collaborative research with @AmnestyTech and @EICnetwork (including @Mediapart and @derspiegel) with the #CCC community
    1
    104
    214
    46K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Oct 5, 2023
    🚨BREAKING: “Predator Files” investigation reveals catastrophic failure to regulate surveillance trade. Our team at @amnesty's Security Lab are technical partners of @EICnetwork (w/ @Mediapart, @derspiegel) on this global investigation into Intellexa and its Predator spyware
    3
    122
    204
    41K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Feb 3, 2023
    PERSONAL NEWS: After a six-month sabbatical, I'm very excited to re-join @AmnestyTech to lead the incredible researchers at our Security Lab. Over the next months we'll expand our team of technologists to help civil society fight back against the global spyware industry!
    9
    8
    197
    30K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Feb 26, 2025
    🚨 Human rights win! 🚨 Following Amnesty’s investigation into misuse by Serbia authorities of Cellebrite’s forensic tools to target activists & journalists, Cellebrite has suspended Serbian customers! A crucial step—but stronger safeguards are needed to prevent future abuse.
    Serbia: Cellebrite halts product use in Serbia following Amnesty surveillance report
    3
    69
    194
    21K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Feb 15, 2023
    MUST READ: Incredible undercover investigation exposes how hackers-for-hire manipulate elections around the world With @FbdnStories I investigated the hackers behind the attacks. Here's how civil society can help defend against these threats. THREAD haaretz.com/israel-news/se…
    5
    88
    173
    33K
  • user avatar
    Donncha Ó Cearbhaill
    @DonnchaC
    Oct 6, 2023
    NEW: #PredatorFiles Day 2 - Technical deep-dive exposing the Intellexa Alliance's secret surveillance capabilities including advanced spyware, mass surveillance platforms, and tactical systems for targeting and intercepting nearby devices with zero-days.
    Predator Files: Technical deep-dive into Intellexa Alliance's surveillance products - Amnesty...
    From securitylab.amnesty.org
    3
    105
    165
    59K