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.
More context
Timeline
- 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
Why it matters
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.
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
