CRIME & LAW

Russia used Israeli Cellebrite tool to hack iPhone

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Russian investigators used an Israeli-made Cellebrite Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED) to hack the iPhone of opposition politician Andrey Pivovarov in June 2021, according to a new investigation by the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab and court records published on June 25, 2026. Cellebrite had announced in March 2021 that it had stopped all sales and services to Russian government agencies following criticism over human rights concerns. Citizen Lab’s forensic review of Pivovarov’s case file showed that Russian authorities employed UFED to bypass security protections and extract messages, contacts, and call logs, indicating continued Russian access to Cellebrite technology after the official cutoff.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.

Timeline of Events

Late 2020 Russian investigators seize Sobol smartphone
March 2021 Cellebrite announces Russia market exit
May 2021 Pivovarov arrested by Russian authorities
June 2021 Russian police confiscate Pivovarov iPhone
June 2021 Cellebrite UFED extracts iPhone data
2024 Pivovarov released in multinational prisoner deal
June 25 2026 Citizen Lab report publicly released

News Intelligence

Your smartphone holds a treasure trove of personal data. This case shows even when companies claim to protect your privacy, there can be loopholes. It's a reminder to be vigilant about your digital security. Regularly update your phone's software and consider using encryption tools.