Thread by @cyber_watchers

We thought it was time to return to highlighting some of the tech companies with ties to the Russian intelligence services. Today we introduce you to Special Technological Centre Ltd. #STC #СТЦ

In late 2016 STC was sanctioned by the U.S. in the amendment to Executive Order 13964 issued by President Obama.

STC was named as one of three companies that provided material support to the #GRU interference of the Presidential election in 2016 and assisting them in conducting signals intelligence operations.

In 2017 the U.S. designated STC as part of Russia's intelligence complex and prohibited any significant transactions with the company.

STC is located in St. Petersburg and, according to its LinkedIn profile, has between 1000 and 5000 employees. The company works on UAV's, radar systems and RF measurement/monitoring equipment. According to investigations STC manufactures the Orlan-10 UAV used against Ukraine.

In 2019, it was identified by security company Lookout as responsible for mobile phone surveillance software, named Monokle, hidden in fake apps, which had been in circulation since 2016.
lookout.com/documents/thre…

Lookout assessed some of the potential targets to be individuals interested in Islam and the Ahrar al-Sham militant group in Syria, individuals associated with the Caucasus region and users of the messaging app UzbekChat.

It would seem that STC still has ties to the GRU. According to an istories report in conjunction with Reuters and RUSI, STC received more than 3 billion rubles via contracts with the GRU in 2022.

istories.media/en/stories/202…