Your World Tonight - Zero-click spyware targets devices worldwide

Episode Date: October 15, 2026

A new kind of spyware that can be planted on your device – without a single click from you.Also: Canadian research is raising red flags about ultra-processed foods. The study suggests eating too much of it could increase your chances of having a stroke or developing dementia.And: The new White House spokesperson has repeatedly described herself as a lawyer. But it appears she never passed the bar in any jurisdiction.Plus: More than 30 children dead in school collapse in Pakistan, teenager dies in occupied West Bank, NATO countries race to counter Russian drones, and more.

At Desjardin, we understand it can take up to 4,000 hours to turn a calling into a career. Three flights to make your dream vacation a reality. 1,200 square feet to turn a house into a home. And 7.5 pounds to start saving for a whole new future. For all of life's moments, we're here when it counts. Dejardin. This is a CBC podcast. This is very sophisticated government-grade surveillance technology

that's sold to government law enforcement and intelligence agencies. If you use the internet, you see them everywhere, multiple or even dozens of times a day, online advertisements selling a wide range of products and services. But an investigation has found some of those ads are being used to covertly target and hack online users, all without you clicking on a single thing. This is Your World Tonight.

I'm Salima Shivji, also on the program. If you have a diet which is rich in these processed foods, you have a greater probability of having something happen to you in the future. We know instant noodles and soft drinks aren't exactly the pinnacle of healthy eating, but just how wide-reaching are their effects on the human body. A new study is providing some extra food for thought the next time you reach for a packaged meal. Canadian researchers say they've discovered a new kind of spyware

with serious security implications. For the first time, it can be planted on devices without any action from the user. And they warn of far-reaching threats, both for individuals and governments worldwide. Aaron Collins joins me now with the details on this. So, Aaron, they call it zero-click mercenary spyware. Let's start there. What exactly is it? Well, Salima, it's pretty much exactly what it says, right?

We've all heard those warnings, you know, not to open attachments we don't recognize or avoid. going to suspicious websites in order to stop getting spyware on our smartphone or our computer. Well, this investigation by the University of Toronto Citizen Lab has found that an Israeli company, Kandaru, was able to plant spyware on people's devices without them clicking on anything, hence the name, right? And once it's there, Salima, the Citizen Labs, Ron Debert, says it's pretty frightening what this government-grade surveillance software can do. Listen in on all the phone calls, read all the text messages.

and emails, even those that are intent encrypted, can track a target's location, can look through the photos and video roles, can activate the microphone, activate the camera, essentially do everything a person can do, except

without that person knowing anyone else is on their device. Okay, so that is very alarming. Yeah. So how did the spyware actually get on people's computers? Right. So full disclosure, look, I'm not an expert in this field, but Ron explained it this way. He says the spyware was inserted into ads that would open when you

open an app or website. And just by that ad appearing, that spyware could be placed on your device. And again, no need for the user to click on anything. Okay. So another important question in all of this is how widespread the risk is. So who did Citizen Lab find was vulnerable to these type of attacks? Right. Again, well, so really anyone who sees those ads could be at risk. Now, the Citizen Lab highlighted the news organization Al Jazeera in their investigation. Obviously having this kind of spyware inserted in ads on news apps and websites, that's troubling. But Salima, Ron Debert says the investigation found these ads pretty much everywhere. We don't know if people were hacked in these entities, but they were displayed in some of the

world's most high-risk critical infrastructure and government organizations. So Ministry of Defense is real. Ministry of Defense, Italy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Czechia, nuclear research facilities in Australia, on and on and on. So what can we do about this risk then? Yeah, not a lot really, right? This activity is clearly illegal, but so tough to regulate as these actors and these ads are really free of borders. So until there's some kind of global effort to curb how these ads are bought and sold, you pretty much just have to assume. that it's at least possible that if you're on a connected device, you aren't entirely alone.

Okay. The CBC is Aaron Collins. Thanks for this. You bet. New Canadian research is raising red flags about ultra-processed foods. The study suggests eating too much of it could be linked to brain injury, potentially raising the risk of having a stroke or developing dementia. Our Christine Beirak spoke with experts about what the findings mean and how small changes to what we eat could make a big difference. Sound tempting?

New Canadian research suggests ultra-processed foods don't just impact your weight and heart health. They could also damage your brain. There were changes in the brain similar to what we call silent strokes that were not apparent to the individuals, but we could see them on MRI scanning. Dr. Sonia Anon teaches medicine at McMaster University. She co-authored the study now published in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers looked at nearly 9,000 Canadian adults, aged 3.000. 35 to 69 and found higher ultra-processed food intake was linked to higher odds of vascular brain injury, but not cognitive performance. While long-term studies are needed to see how brain injuries could lead to dementia or future stroke, Dr. Anon believes the connection comes down to inflammation. Fat tissue in the wrong places can be almost like a furnace spewing out a whole bunch of inflammatory proteins that then affect our brains. According to Statistics Canada, on average, nearly half of the calories Canadians consume come from ultra-processed foods. That's everything from soft drinks and pre-packaged baked goods to processed meats.

While the study is observational and doesn't prove cause and effect, here's how a stroke specialist sees it. It doesn't mean if you go out and have a Snickers bar today or have a slice of chocolate cake, you're all of a sudden going to have a stroke. No, it doesn't mean that at all. Dr. Michael Hill is a neurologist and professor at the University of Calgary. He says food studies shouldn't alarm us, but they can help us eat smarter. If you have a diet which is rich in these processed foods, you have a greater probability of having something happen to you in the future. To lower that risk, you don't need a total diet overhaul.

Studies show swapping just 10% of processed meat for veggies, nuts or beans, helps. People who consume all processed food, they are probably not all doing it out of choice. Dr. Bishol Gaiwali is a cancer specialist at. Queen's University. He says not everyone can afford fresh whole foods and flexible rather than rigid food rules can be effective. Try to avoid it as much as you can. It's not about, you know, one-time thing. It's about consistency over period. So you don't always pick pepperoni. But if you are picking pepperoni today because you're busy or whatever, then don't show it about it. As we learn more about how food affects our brain, doctors say it's clear that's small, but

consistent food choices can make a big difference. Christine Beirak, CBC News, Toronto. The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear an appeal of Ottawa's ban on single-use plastics. The ban dates back to 2021. The federal government listed all plastic manufactured items as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. A plastics industry group appealed and a federal court judge overturned the ban in 2023. But it was reinstated on appeal. earlier this year. Coming right up, a plate of Thanksgiving turkey leftovers with a side of disagreements.

For some Albertans, the upcoming referendum has been no easy subject at the dinner table, and it's left some families on a knife's edge. And the new spokesperson for the White House is trying to manage her own PR. Katie Zachariah is now facing accusations of claiming to be something she's not. And later, we'll have this story. I'm Nala Ayed in Brussels, the home of NATO. where we began our investigation into the growing number of ambiguous drones stalking the skies in Europe. I think we are kind of in a new stage of hybrid warfare in Europe. I'll have more on Europe's drone dilemma later on your world tonight. Prime Minister Mark Carney is in Alberta today making a final push for national unity

ahead of the province's historic referendum. He's been meeting with union workers and students throughout the day, urging everyone to get out and vote. It's time for us to come together and stand up for ourselves and to take care of each other, right? That's the lesson that we've taken. And this is an opportunity to do both. Of course, not everyone shares Carney's vision of a United Canada, and the debate about separation doesn't only happen in the public sphere.

It is also causing serious strain on some personal relationships. Julia Wong spoke with a mother and daughter on opposite. its sides about how they're navigating the divide. Yeah, it's a little bit isolating, obviously. It's a bit anxiety-inducing at times. Talking about Alberta separatism with her family can make Katrina Dodge feel like she's on an island. She wants Alberta to stay in Canada, but...

Generally speaking, the majority of my family are for separation. Are family dinners or family functions? Like, are they awkward? No tense, probably yes, about. When the family gathers, conversations are respectful, she says, but sometimes she needs to take a beat. So, yeah, I definitely try to check in with my body and ask, like, do I have the emotional, mental capacity for this? Am I super tired and cranky? Do I need a snack before I have, like, a deep, sort of debate? Katrina, who lives in Calgary, is close with her mom, Gabriel. But Gabriel is voting for a second

binding referendum on independence to send a message to Ottawa. She knows how I feel, like, and I know how she feels. So we try not to get into each other's spaces where she feels uncomfortable or I feel uncomfortable. Though she admits, Sometimes we avoid it because we know we feel differently. Katrina and Gabriel are far from alone. An abacus poll from September found 23% of those surveyed say the referendum has strained at least one relationship,

38% say they've avoided talking about it, worried it could lead to an argument. Polster David Coletto says he's concerned about the findings and what comes next. Most Albertans also believe that no matter what happens on October 19th, that this debate and this tension and this divide is going to continue for some time. No, I'm not surprised by it. Registered psychologist Vanessa Goodchild says it's coming up more in sessions. She says open communication and setting boundaries are key. But try to listen openly and respectfully and don't let any kind of political

disagreements really define a relationship because there's other things that you value with this person or within this relationship. Katrina and Gabriel have developed off-ramps to help. We have learned to say that this is too personal or this bothers me. Can we change the subject and we usually do. Because for both, it's family over politics. I know that we still love each other at the end of the day. We can have conversations, which I think is so important. My thing is that politicians change and political parties change, but my family doesn't. Something this mother-daughter duo insists will be the case, no matter how the vote goes.

Julia Wong, CBC News, Calgary. What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney? Well, when it comes to the new White House spokesperson, the point is moot. Katie Zachariah has repeatedly described herself, as a lawyer, but it appears she never passed the bar in any jurisdiction, all of which is leading to calls for an investigation. Katie Nicholson has the details. I am so honored to work for President Trump and the American people.

A lot has been made of the White House's new press secretary Katie Zachariah and her awkward debut. My president, excuse me, my husband, that's a good one. But even more is being made about Zachariah's claim to be a lawyer, which she made for years and which the U.S. President repeated when he introduced her as an attorney, all of which prompted reporters to ask where she passed the bar exam. You said she's an attorney. Where did she pass the bar exam? Which date? Which state? And there were jokes online and on late night TV. I have a feeling the only bar she passed

is from dry bar, okay? It is true she studied law at Pepperdine University, but the Wall Street Journal reported while she sat for a bar exam, she didn't pass it. Today, Zachariah addressed that question with Real America's voice, saying she took the exam before moving to China with her husband. The results are somewhat inconsequential because I knew I wouldn't need the bar in China, and we left shortly thereafter. And she defended her work with a legal firm in that country. I had enough credentials, which was my law degree, to be able to do this practice.

But according to Richard Painter, a former ethics lawyer for President George W. Bush, the bigger problem is that she referred to herself as the day. General Counsel for a conservative organization in California on LinkedIn. When does not become a lawyer in the United States until one takes the bar exam and then undergoes the character and fitness review and is sworn in as a member of the bar. So she is not a lawyer. Painter signed a letter to the state bar of California demanding an investigation, citing the state's Business and Professions Code, which says falsely claiming to be a lawyer is a criminal offense that carries a fine or jail time of up to a

year. The bar also confirmed to CBC News, Zachariah was never licensed to practice in California. Painter says all of this raises a separate issue. We would like to have a press secretary who is telling the truth about everything to the press. Now, that may be a very, very high standard. It wasn't always met in the Biden administration either, I should emphasize. But this certainly isn't a good start with respect to trustworthiness with the press. But if the better, marketing markets are anything to go by, this may all be moot. Many wagering how long Zachariah will hang on to her new job. Katie Nicholson, CBC News, Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump has canceled plans to live stream a military execution.

Former Army Major Nidal Hassan killed 13 people at a military base in 2009. He is set to be executed by firing squad on December 3rd. And Pentagon Chief Pete Hegsef had previously said his death would be broadcast live online for all to see. Opinion polls showed a majority of Americans opposed the plan. 34 schoolchildren and a teacher are dead in Pakistan. Their three-story school came crashing down this morning after the roof of the building collapsed. At least 45 students were injured.

Three of them are in critical condition with head injuries. As Sasha Petrissik reports, the children's families are devastated and their whole community is furious. Police, rescuers and panicked parents jammed a narrow lane in Peshawar, northeastern Pakistan, shoveling debris and searching for survivors.

Students whose school collapsed just as classes started. The ceiling crashed on top of us, says 7th grade student Umar Khan. We ran out while the other children inside screamed. Broken girders. desks and dirt cover the ground as a convoy of ambulances tries to get through the crowd. When I arrived, there were 10 to 15 children trapped with debris up to their necks, says Sohail, a passerby. We quickly pulled them out.

Dozens of others died in hospital, all under 13 years old, plus a teacher. Police have arrested the school's owner. The building's structure was weak, says police chief Mian Saeed. Its roof was overloaded with construction, which led to the collapse. The El-Kahir Education Center is a private school in a poor part of Peshawar, one of many small, badly maintained schools in a country that spends less than 1% of its GDP on public education, considerably less than the international norm. And this has happened before.

In June, the roof of another tutoring center collapsed in Lahore, killing 14 students. Mohamed Zaman's two nephews died today. How can buildings be built so poorly, he asks? The government needs to make an example of them, so no one else dares open such a dangerous school for profit. By the end of the day, the funerals started. Children's bodies carried aloft through large emotional gatherings. Gulnor Khan's young relative among them.

It's so heartbreaking, he says. Nothing like this has ever happened here. It's left everyone so saddened. Sasha Petrissik, CBC News, Toronto. Months ago, a Palestinian teenager spoke to CBC News after one of his friends was killed by an Israeli military. military reservist. The teenager feared he would be the next in his village to die. In September, that fear became reality and his family wants to know why. Tom Perry spoke to them at their home

in the occupied West Bank. It can't get more dangerous than that. Like, we're used to this now. It's our life. 17-year-old Omar Nassan grew up in the West Bank village of Almurayir, a place that's been a frequent flashpoint for clashes between Palestinians, Israeli settlers, and Israeli security forces. CBC News went to the village in April after a gunman identified as an Israeli military reservist opened fire on a local school, killing two people, 32-year-old Jihad Abu Naim and 14-year-old Aos al-Nasan. I just found myself at the hospital 30 minutes later with Aousan jihad, and I can't remember

everything. It happened so fast. Omar Nassan was a close friend of the 14-year-old boy who died. At the time, he talked about life in his village with a deep sense of fatalism. I lost my friend, and he's not the first friend I lose, whether it's getting

killed or in prison. He's not the first or the last friend I lose, so I already accepted that. I'm going to be next. On the night of September 2nd, the Israel Defense Forces deployed troops, to Almurayir. The IDF says soldiers were sent into the village to retrieve livestock belonging to

Israeli civilians, but that a riot broke out. The military says terrorists hurled rocks and stones at soldiers who fired on what it calls key instigators. Two young Palestinians died that night, 16-year-old Halil Abu Aliya and Omar Nassan. So is this where it happened right over here? Omar's father, Mohamed Nassan, says his son was struck by bullets right outside the door of his home. The family still in shock. I felt that my soul was separated, says Omar's mother, Rania Nassan. I felt like the mountains would not bear the news. Omar's mother says her son was deeply affected by the loss of his friend Aous

and confided in her his feelings he could be next. The family believes Omar was shot by an army sniper, though the IDF won't confirm that. The military has provided few details about what happened that night or about the shooting at the school in April. The IDF says that case is currently under review by the military advocate general's corps, but won't say whether that review or its ruling will be made public. Tom Perry, CBC News, Al-Murayir in the occupied West Bank. Europe is on edge. A dramatic increase in unidentified drone activity has countries throwing serious side-eye at Russia. Moscow has been consistently scaling up its use of drones in its war on Ukraine.

Now NATO countries like Germany are racing to build up their capacity to counter the growing threat. Nala Ayyed tells us more. If someone is foolish enough to attack us, we will fight. NATO-top commander General Alexis Grencovic speaking in Warsaw on Monday, laying out the plan in case of attack. Concerns about a direct Russian strike on NATO have been mounting since August 4th when a drone with explosives was diffused near a Ukrainian plane at Leipzig Airport. Germany blamed Russia and in the process refocused European attention

on the growing problem of ambiguous drones stalking their skies with impunity. German authorities, for instance, have clocked more than 1,000, Suspicious drone-related incidents since January last year. That means an average of more than one every single day. Sightings over critical infrastructure, military facilities, and defense companies, the Federal Criminal Police Office told CBC News. Drone incidents at German airports alone have almost doubled. Similar incidents have cropped up in countries like Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.

Former Belgian Prime Minister Elio de Ruppo is on the European Parliament's Defense Committee. It's a real war, but we don't see nobody. CBC News reached out to 11 national air traffic authorities, several EU organizations, research institutes and think tanks as well as NATO. But a Europe-wide tally is hard to come by, and the drones themselves are hard to intercept and attribute. But taken together, say defense experts, a pattern emerges that suggests the drones are one element of a Russian hybrid campaign,

designed in part to cause uncertainty. There is an increase in the absolute number. Ulrich Frank, one of Europe's foremost drone experts, is a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. And I'm comfortable to say that it is very likely, if not certainly, linked to Russian aggression towards Europe and the war that Russia is waging. Russia rejects such accusations.

That's why Leipzig was such a turning point. The diffused explosives and drones provided evidence, German investigators concluded, of Russian involvement. Michelle Haas is a research fellow at Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels. It tells us that Russia is definitely targeting countries and companies that are supporting Ukraine. And one of the main goals is to get into our minds and make us believe that the cost of supporting Ukraine is too high. Such threats, European leaders acknowledge, are always. already the new normal. Still, added Haas, they must be taken seriously. Nala Ayed, CBC News, Brussels.

And finally, Bruno Mars says those doors are open, but not for long, and before you step on board, you better let passengers exit first. The American pop star is making special announcements this week on Vancouver's Skytrain. To everybody taking the train, it's Bruno Mars. I can't wait to see you all. It's about to get real romantic tonight. I love you. That's what writers will hear this week at Stadium Chinatown Station. The announcements will play on his five concert dates at B.C. Place. TransLink says its collaboration with the singer-songwriter is meant to bring a bit of unexpected joy to people as they're on their commutes.

And advertising revenue will go to supporting transit service in Metro Vancouver. Now, Bruno Mars is the first musician to take the mic on the sky train, but he's certainly. not the first celebrity to do it. Hey Vancouver, it's Seth. I'm really happy you got plants tonight. Really, I am. But unless I'm invited, I don't need to hear about it. And unless you have a very good reason,

don't be one of those people using their speakerphone in public. Have fun tonight, by the way, and thanks for using TransLink. That advice from back in 2018 when Vancouver-born comedian Seth Rogan delivered announcements on buses, trains, and platforms. And earlier this year, one of Burnaby's own celebrities got a kick out of her guest appearance. Hi, it's Christine Sinclair, Canada's soccer, Olympic gold medalist, and the world's top international

goal score. Welcome to Vancouver. The Canadian soccer icon lent her voice to the sky train during the FIFA World Cup. Now, as for Bruno, he's bringing some of the concert experience to commuters this week with a bit of uptown and downtown funk. Thanks for being with us. This has been your world tonight for Thursday, October 15th. I'm Salima Shivji. Good night.

For more CBC podcasts, go to cBC.ca.ca slash podcasts.