WhatsApp accuses Israeli spyware firm paragon of hacking 90 users.

Meta’s WhatsApp has accused Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions of hacking approximately 90 users, including journalists and civil society members, across more than two dozen countries.

Key Details

  • Zero-click attack: WhatsApp detected malicious documents that compromised devices without user interaction—a sophisticated hacking method.
  • Cease-and-desist: WhatsApp has sent a legal warning to Paragon and disrupted the hacking operation.
  • Citizen Lab involved: WhatsApp referred victims to Canadian watchdog Citizen Lab, which investigates cyber threats.

Paragon & the Spyware Industry

  • Paragon sells spyware to governments, branding itself as ethical and focused on security threats.
  • Industry concerns: Despite claims of selling only to “stable democracies,” spyware from firms like NSO Group and Paragon has been linked to surveillance of journalists, activists, and opposition politicians.
  • New ownership: Paragon was recently acquired by Florida-based AE Industrial Partners, raising questions about its future operations.

Global Concerns

  • Pattern of abuse: Spyware firms claim to fight crime but are frequently exposed for targeting political and media figures.
  • U.S. involvement: At least 50 U.S. officials have been targeted by similar spyware in recent years.
  • Access Now’s verdict: The advocacy group warns that the entire spyware industry is plagued by systemic abuse, not just a few “bad apples.”

WhatsApp has notified law enforcement and industry partners, but further action against Paragon remains unclear.