Firm uncovers the most sophisticated cyber spying campaign ever seen

A computer security software firm has uncovered what it calls the first cyber espionage campaign believed to be started by a Spanish-speaking country, targeting government agencies, energy companies and activists in 31 countries. Dubbed “The Mask,” the campaign had operated undetected since 2007 and infected more than 380 targets before it stopped last week, Moscow-based Kaspersky Lab said on Monday.

A security firm has discovered a new, highly sophisticated spy operation launched by a group of nation-state hackers that has infected more than 380 high-profile targets in 31 countries — and for once, China might not be the No. 1 suspect behind the attacks. The hackers seem to be Spanish-speaking, which is unique in this kind of operation; it’s often attributed to Chinese or Russian hackers working for their own governments. The operation, called The Mask, is one of the most — if not the most — sophisticated cyberespionage campaigns ever seen, according to the researchers at Kaspersky Lab who uncovered it.