Italian surveillance company Hacking Team appears to fall victim to damaging cyberattack

An Italian surveillance company known for selling malicious software used by police bodies and spy agencies appears to have succumbed to a damaging cyberattack which sent documents and invoices ricocheting across the Internet.

Hacking Team's Twitter account appears to have been hijacked late Sunday, posting screenshots of what were purported to be internal company emails and details of secret deals with various world governments.

The AP couldn't immediately verify the authenticity of the documents.

Milan-based Hacking Team has been the subject of increasing scrutiny after the company's malware was discovered targeting a series of journalists and activists. Researchers have linked the company to some two dozen countries, including several with atrocious human rights records.

Hacking Team didn't immediately return messages seeking a comment Monday. Hacking Team's website was offline.