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Vibes Of India
Vibes Of India

Israeli Spyware Targets Dozens of Journalists and Activists in WhatsApp Hack

| Updated: February 3, 2025 14:34

WhatsApp has accused Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions of targeting nearly 100 journalists and civil society members in a recent hacking campaign, according to a media report. 

The messaging platform claims that the attacks were carried out using Graphite, a sophisticated spyware capable of infiltrating devices without requiring any interaction from the victim, a technique known as a zero-click attack. WhatsApp believes that approximately 90 users, including journalists and activists, were targeted and potentially compromised.

While the platform did not disclose the specific locations of the affected individuals, it confirmed that those targeted had been notified of the potential breach. WhatsApp also stated that it had sent a cease and desist letter to Paragon and was exploring legal options to hold the company accountable.

Paragon Solutions, based in Virginia, USA, is known for its Graphite spyware, a tool similar to the infamous Pegasus software developed by NSO Group. 

Once installed on a device, Graphite grants the operator complete access, including the ability to read messages sent through encrypted apps like WhatsApp and Signal.

The identity of the attackers remains unclear. Paragon sells its software to government clients, but WhatsApp has stated that it could not determine who commissioned the alleged attacks. 

A source close to Paragon claimed that the company has 35 government customers, all of which are democratic nations. The source also added that Paragon avoids doing business with countries previously accused of spyware abuse, such as Greece, Poland, Hungary, Mexico, and India.

Natalia Krapiva, senior tech legal counsel at Access Now, remarked that while Paragon had been seen as a more reputable spyware company with fewer abuse allegations, WhatsApp’s revelations suggest otherwise. “This is not just a question of some bad apples — these types of abuses are a feature of the commercial spyware industry,” she said.

WhatsApp’s announcement follows a recent legal victory against NSO Group, another Israeli spyware maker. In December, a California judge ruled that NSO was liable for hacking 1,400 WhatsApp users in 2019, violating US hacking laws and the platform’s terms of service. NSO was added to a US commerce department blacklist in 2021 for activities deemed contrary to US national security interests.

WhatsApp has not disclosed how long the targets may have been under threat but confirmed that the alleged attacks were disrupted in December. The company is now working to support the affected users and strengthen its defences against future breaches.

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