The Washington Post quoted reports by Citizen Lab and Microsoft that an Israeli app known as QuaDream was sold to 10 countries and used against journalists, opposition politicians and an NGO worker.
The newspaper added that Microsoft revealed traces of spyware created by Quadrim in older versions of Apple's iOS operating system, while Citizen Lab tracked the data to track victims.
According to the newspaper, Quadrim's information initially appeared in a marketing brochure, and since then the media has identified customers in countries.
She noted that some States have human rights issues and a history of using spyware on peaceful domestic dissent.
Quadrim was founded in 2016 by former employees of the Israeli company NSO.
In 2021, Quadrim and NSO were accused of exploiting iPhone flaws to install spyware.
Citizen Lan said in a report that it was able to identify a small number of civil society victims whose iPhones were hacked using surveillance software developed by Israeli company Quadrim.
Blacklisted
Quadrim is a lesser-known competitor to Israeli spyware company NSO, which has been blacklisted by the U.S. government over hacking accusations.
In a report published at the same time, Microsoft said it believed with "high confidence" that the spyware was "strongly linked to Quadrim."
Microsoft official Amy Hogan Bernie said mercenary hacking groups like Quadrim were "thriving in the shadows" and that exposing them was "necessary to stop this activity".
Reuters reported last year that Quadrim had previously developed a hacking tool that did not require interaction, similar to software published by NSO.
These hacking tools, known as Zero Click, are appreciated by cybercriminals, spies and law enforcement because they can hack devices remotely without their owners needing to open a malicious link or download a file with a virus attached.
Devastating accusation
Neither Citizen Lab nor Microsoft have specified the goals of Quadrim, but the accusation could be devastating for the company.
The reports come on the heels of a declared crackdown by US President Joe Biden on the international spyware industry.
Last month, the White House announced an executive order aimed at limiting the purchase by U.S. agencies of surveillance software if it is used by repressive governments abroad.