Meta’s WhatsApp has detected a hack targeting 90 users in over two dozen countries, primarily using Israeli spyware company Paragon Solutions’ zero-click hack technique. The company sent a cease-and-desist letter to Paragon following the incident.
According to a WhatsApp official, approximately 90 users were targeted, with those affected based in more than 24 countries, including several in Europe. The hackers used malicious electronic documents that required no user interaction to compromise their targets. WhatsApp has disrupted the hacking effort and is referring targets to Canadian internet watchdog group Citizen Lab.
Citizen Lab researcher John Scott-Railton expressed concerns about the proliferation of mercenary spyware like Paragon’s, which sells high-end surveillance software to governments and claims to be a responsible player in the industry. However, he noted that such companies are typically associated with problematic use, targeting journalists, activists, opposition politicians, and at least 50 US officials.
Paragon Solutions was reportedly acquired by Florida-based investment group AE Industrial Partners last month. While it advertises “ethically based tools” on its website, experts like Natalia Krapiva of advocacy group Access Now raise concerns that the company’s reputation may not align with its actions. This incident highlights the risks associated with commercial spyware and its use in democratic countries.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/metas-whatsapp-says-israeli-spyware-company-paragon-targeted-scores-users-2025-01-31