Al-Fassel | 2025-12-22

The Yemen crisis has evolved beyond traditional warfare into a more covert form of warfare.

Today, the Houthis are weaponizing mobile malware to infiltrate digital spaces, threatening citizens, destabilizing the country, and tightening their chokehold on Yemen's digital world.

By controlling the country's primary internet service providers, including YemenNet and TeleYemen, they have centralized power to monitor, censor, and manipulate the flow of information.

Hacking citizens' devices

Through malicious apps and spyware, the Houthis target mobile devices, turning them into surveillance tools.

Pro-Houthi hacking groups deploy mobile malware to spy on perceived adversaries and ordinary citizens alike.

One such spyware, GuardZoo, has been used to target Yemeni military personnel by stealing photos, documents, and location data from their devices.

Another group, known as OilAlpha, uses malicious Android apps to conduct digital espionage against humanitarian and non-governmental organizations, aiming to control the distribution of aid.

These campaigns often use popular apps like WhatsApp to spread, making the threat of mobile malware a daily reality for many.

The apps often masquerade as news platforms or social services, luring users into sharing sensitive data without realizing it.

This digital siege undermines trust, silences dissent, and isolates communities.

Every day, Yemenis face constant surveillance, restricted access to global news, and fear of reprisal.

Furthermore, the Houthis enforce a chilling policy of narrative control through the "Midri" campaign, a term from Yemeni slang meaning "I don't know."

This initiative criminalizes the act of witnessing and reporting, forcing citizens into silence about events like airstrikes or Houthi missile misfires.

Solutions and safeguards

Despite these threats, practical solutions exist to safeguard digital freedom, including Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which can provide Yemenis with secure and uncensored internet access.

By encrypting data and masking user locations, VPNs help bypass Houthi-imposed destruction and surveillance systems.

Digital literacy campaigns are equally vital. Educating citizens on how to identify malware, secure devices, and use privacy tools can reduce vulnerability.

While the Houthis actively try to block VPN services, their use represents a resilient stand against cyber infiltration and a practical step toward digital safety.

By using these tools, the people of Yemen can reclaim a part of their digital sovereignty and stay connected to the global community.