In July 2015, Italian surveillance company Hacking Team was breached, exposing 400GB of internal data including source code for their spyware, client lists (including authoritarian regimes), and zero-day exploits they had purchased.
What Was Exposed
- Complete source code for "Remote Control System" spyware
- Client list including Sudan, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia
- Zero-day exploits for Flash, Windows, iOS
- Internal emails revealing company practices
- Invoice and financial records
Impact
The leak exposed the surveillance industry's relationship with governments accused of human rights abuses. It also provided security researchers with valuable intelligence about state-sponsored spyware capabilities.
Darknet Relevance
The leak demonstrated that even sophisticated security companies could be breached. It highlighted the tools used against activists and journalists who rely on anonymity networks.