The Article Tells The Story of:
- 🚨 Spyware attack hits WhatsApp—journalists and activists at risk!
- 🔍 Meta confirms 90 users were possibly compromised by Israeli spyware.
- 📁 Hackers used PDF files in group chats to infect phones.
- ⚠️ WhatsApp fights back—sending legal warnings and notifying victims.
WhatsApp Identifies Israeli Spyware Targeting Journalists
WhatsApp has confirmed that nearly 100 journalists and civil society members were targeted by spyware linked to Paragon Solutions, an Israeli hacking software company. The messaging platform, owned by Meta, has “high confidence” that 90 users were targeted and “possibly compromised.”
Paragon’s spyware, called Graphite, allows hackers to fully access a phone, including encrypted chats on WhatsApp and Signal. Security researchers describe this attack as zero-click, meaning victims did not need to interact with malicious links to be infected.
WhatsApp has begun notifying affected users and has taken legal action, sending a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon while exploring further legal steps.
Check Out Our Article of ChatGPT Now Accessible via Phone Calls and WhatsApp Published on December 19, 2024 SquaredTech
Who Is Behind the Attack?
It is still unclear which government or entity ordered the attacks. Paragon’s spyware is sold to government agencies, but WhatsApp has not identified the specific clients involved.
Paragon, founded by former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, has 35 government customers, all described as “democratic.” However, reports suggest the company refuses to work with countries previously accused of spyware abuse, including India, Mexico, Greece, Poland, and Hungary.
This attack follows recent scrutiny of Paragon after a report revealed that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had signed a $2 million contract with the company. However, the deal was paused for review due to U.S. government restrictions on spyware usage.
Despite these claims, Paragon has remained silent, declining to comment on the allegations.
How the Attack Worked & WhatsApp’s Response
Security experts believe the infection method involved sending malicious PDF files to users through group chats. WhatsApp worked with Citizen Lab, a cybersecurity research group, to analyze these attacks.
This breach comes just weeks after WhatsApp won a major lawsuit against NSO Group, another Israeli spyware company. In 2019, WhatsApp sued NSO after discovering its Pegasus spyware had infected 1,400 users. A U.S. judge ruled that NSO violated federal hacking laws and WhatsApp’s terms of service.
Now, Meta is pushing back against Paragon, warning that spyware companies must be held accountable. WhatsApp has assured users that it will continue strengthening security measures to prevent future attacks.
With spyware attacks increasing, users must stay vigilant, avoid suspicious files, and update their apps regularly to protect their data.
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