Italian police are investigating a private firm, Equalize, for allegedly running an extensive hack-for-hire operation that targeted prominent politicians, business leaders, and public figures. According to police documents cited by the media, Israeli agents, allegedly tied to Mossad, tried to purchase sensitive information from Equalize on Russian-linked groups and other intelligence topics. This scandal has shocked Italy, with officials calling for stronger data protections and an investigation into how the breach was possible.
The scheme was allegedly led by Nunzio Samuele Calamucci, an IT consultant with a hacking background, who reportedly accessed government databases and stole data on over 800,000 Italians. Among the reported targets were high-profile figures like President Sergio Mattarella, Senate President Ignazio La Russa, former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, and Olympic athlete Marcell Jacobs. Working from a small office in Milan, Calamucci and a team that included former police officers allegedly used malware and internal contacts to gather data, which they sold to clients for prices ranging from €250 to tens of thousands of euros per dossier.
Alongside Calamucci, police arrested three others tied to the operation: private investigator Massimiliano Camponovo, former police officer Carmine Gallo, and tech firm owner Giulio Cornelli. All four face charges including hacking, conspiracy, and illegal use of data. Italian authorities revealed that Israeli agents offered Equalize €40,000 for information on the Russian militia group Wagner and cyber attacks linked to Russia. The agents reportedly expressed interest in sharing some data with the Vatican and energy firm ENI, though ENI denies involvement.
Italian political leaders have strongly condemned the breach. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani called it a “threat to democracy,” warning that stolen information could fall into the hands of hostile nations. La Russa expressed outrage over the invasion of his and his family’s privacy, while Renzi criticized the breach as a serious attack on personal freedom and security.
In response to the scandal, Italian opposition leaders are demanding a parliamentary inquiry and want Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to address the security gaps. The Italian Data Protection Authority has launched a taskforce to review how the breach occurred. The suspects are under house arrest and a judge is set to review the charges against them on Thursday.
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