Cellebrite Acquires Corellium for $170M to Boost Mobile Testing
▼ Summary
– Cellebrite is acquiring Corellium for $170 million in cash, with $20 million converted to equity at closing.
– The acquisition aims to accelerate the identification of mobile vulnerabilities and exploits, which Cellebrite uses to unlock encrypted phone data.
– Corellium provides virtual, cloud-based Android and iOS devices for app and security testing, a service previously challenged by Apple.
– The deal is expected to close later this year, pending a review by CFIUS, a U.S. government committee overseeing deals impacting national security.
– Cellebrite, headquartered in Israel, specializes in forensic equipment for smartphone unlocking, often leveraging unknown vulnerabilities like zero-day exploits.
Cellebrite has announced a $170 million acquisition of mobile testing firm Corellium, marking a significant expansion of its digital forensics capabilities. The deal, structured with $150 million in cash and $20 million in equity, aims to strengthen Cellebrite’s position in mobile security and vulnerability research.
The Israel-based company specializes in unlocking smartphones for law enforcement and government agencies, often leveraging undisclosed software flaws to bypass encryption. By integrating Corellium’s cloud-based virtual device platform, Cellebrite expects to enhance its ability to detect and exploit mobile vulnerabilities faster. Corellium’s technology allows developers and security researchers to test apps and operating systems on virtualized Android and iOS devices, a service that previously drew legal challenges from Apple.
Regulatory approval remains pending, with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) set to review the transaction due to potential national security implications. If cleared, the acquisition is expected to finalize later this year, positioning Cellebrite as a more comprehensive player in mobile forensics and cybersecurity testing.
The move underscores the growing demand for advanced tools in digital investigations, particularly as encrypted devices become harder to access. Corellium’s expertise in virtualization could provide Cellebrite with new methods to analyze mobile threats while maintaining compliance with evolving legal and technical standards.
(Source: TechCrunch)
