News Summary

Barcelona-based spyware startup Variston is reportedly shutting down following significant scrutiny and controversy. The company, founded in 2018 by industry veterans Ralf Wegener and Ramanan Jayaraman, is being liquidated according to a legal notice published in Barcelona’s registry. This development comes after a Google report in 2022 exposed Variston’s involvement in malicious activities, linking it to the Heliconia exploitation framework that targeted major software like Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Defender. The exposure reportedly marked the beginning of the end for Variston, leading to high staff turnover and the eventual decision to close down the company.